The American Folklore Society offers these grants in support of field research by graduate students pursuing careers in folklore. The main purpose of the grant program is to foster excellence in folklore research by allowing students to develop ambitious projects grounded in long-term ethnographic engagement. We also hope that the grants, in tandem with AFS-led mentoring, will help to create diverse cohorts of new researchers whose conversations will cumulatively advance the field of folklore studies and strengthen the Society. Projects are selected based on their intellectual excellence and the likelihood that the applicant will make a productive career in the field of folklore.
Eligibility criteria:
- Students must be AFS members; they should demonstrate a knowledge of contemporary folklore studies and commitment to becoming a professional in the field.
- They should be full time students in good standing in PhD programs in folklore or related fields and have at least one AFS-active folklorist on their committee. Students in terminal MA programs may apply for thesis fieldwork if they demonstrate a commitment to continue to a doctoral program.
- There are no restrictions on intellectual focus, specific professional goals, or student citizenship.
2023-2026 Award amounts:Â
- $8000 (1 award per year). This grant is meant for projects with inherently higher expenses and/or the need for a longer field stay.
- $4000 (3 awards per year)