These grants are made possible in part by donations to the SMT-Forward campaign.
SMT Subventions are awarded for scholarly projects that advance the discipline, on a competitive basis to SMT members in good standing (members of the Subventions Committee are ineligible in the year of their service). Awards are intended to reimburse scholars for certain types of costs incurred in association with their work in music theory, including out-of-pocket expenses associated with the preparation and publishing of an article or book that has been accepted for publication; with organizing conferences or leading workshops that make a substantial contribution to the field; or with other such projects. Subventions are not intended to fund research-related travel or conference expenses, although they may do so in rare and truly exceptional cases.
Decisions for the awards are based on (a) the scholarly value of the project and its potential to contribute to the field; and (b) the need for the subvention and the impact the subvention will have on the success of the project.
For publication requests, subvention funds may be applied to the copying and setting of musical examples, the payment of copyright or permission fees, the production of graphic and illustrative material, and the development of any relevant computer software, audio material, or other multi-media components essential to the text's production. Funds are not intended to support the basic costs of publication (copyediting, in-house production, printing, binding, distribution, etc.)
All authors are strongly encouraged to submit abstracts of their publications directly to RILM; editors of multi-author collections are urged, when possible, to publish abstracts in their volumes that RILM may use for indexing purposes.
Where a publication, conference, workshop, or other project has been supported by an SMT Subvention, grant recipients should acknowledge the subvention in the publication, conference or workshop program, or other appropriate location.
Grant recipients will be expected to submit receipts to the Treasurer of the Society, documenting all expenses covered by the award, within three years of the date of the award. Members may not request reimbursement of any expenses that have been covered or that will be covered by a grant from another source.
Application materials are to be uploaded electronically using the Subvention Grant Submission form. File attachments should be in PDF format. Applications must include the following items:
- Contact information and information about other subvention funding for which the member is applying or has already applied.
- A brief professional biography, clarifying the member's past and current research interests and listing publications.
- A short abstract (approx. 1000 words) describing the project and its contribution to the field of music theory.
- For publications: a copy of the article in question, or in the case of a book, drafts of one or two representative chapters, in PDF format.
- For publications: a letter to the author from the publisher or journal editor, confirming acceptance of the publication, and informing the author about expenses that the publisher or journal will not cover. This letter will probably be distinct from, and more detailed than, the original letter of acceptance.
- A detailed explanation of the expenses to which the grant would be applied. Where possible, documentation itemizing these expenses should be included.
Applicants may request funding up to $1500; however, given the limited funds available and the desire to support as many deserving requests as possible, grants may be made in smaller amounts. Applicants are encouraged to seek out matching funding from their home institutions. Only one SMT subvention grant will be awarded to support a given project.
Grants are awarded twice a year. Submissions will be evaluated so that successful applications will be announced shortly after the deadline. The Subventions Committee is chaired by the Society's Vice President, Nancy Rogers. Applications for the spring should be uploaded by January 15th, and for the fall by July 15th.
Subventions are not awarded for travel to the SMT Annual Meeting or for Interest Group or Standing Committee activities at the Annual Meeting. (However, events external to the Annual Meeting, such as pre-conference activities, can be eligible for Subventions if they fit the guidelines above.) Applicants who seek funding for travel to the Annual Meeting should instead consult the guidelines for "Travel Grants and Childcare Grants"; costs associated with Interest Group or Standing Committee activities at the Annual Meeting should be referred to the Annual Meeting Grants Subcommittee. Information on both of these funding sources may be found here.
Any questions may be directed to Nancy Rogers.