The Image Centre Research Fellowships
The Image Centre Research Fellowships
2024 Fellowship Guidelines (PDF)
For many years, The Image Centre has offered fellowships for research related to photography. Research fellows have the opportunity to study select areas of The Image Centre's photography collections first-hand. These include the acclaimed Black Star Collection of photo-reportage, with over a quarter-million prints spanning the 20th century; a historic and fine art photography collection; and several archives devoted to the life and work of a diverse group of photographers, including Werner Wolff, Jo Spence, Wendy Snyder MacNeil and Berenice Abbott.
In 2024, The Image Centre (the IMC) will offer six fellowships for research related to photography. All applicants are encouraged to read the following guidelines closely and only apply to the fellowships that are most appropriate to their work and eligibility. Artists, and others seeking to do artistic research in the collections, are encouraged to apply for the Tanenbaum Fellowship exclusively.
The Nadir Mohamed Postdoctoral Fellowship
This fellowship includes a $10,000 (CAD) stipend for travel, research, and other expenses. Candidates must hold a PhD degree. All proposals will be welcome, but we encourage projects that utilize the collections and resources of The Image Centre and Toronto Metropolitan University Archives and Special Collections. The fellow will be expected to carry out their research at the IMC or TMU Archives and Special Collections for a minimum of one (1) to a maximum of three (3) months, between February 1, 2024 and February 28, 2025.
The Singer Family Doctoral Fellowship
This fellowship includes a $10,000 (CAD) stipend for travel, research, and other expenses. Candidates must hold or be working toward a PhD degree. While all proposals will be welcome, we encourage projects related to the Minna Keene and Violet Keene Perinchief Collection at this time. Special consideration may be given to fulfill specific research goals. The fellow will be expected to carry out their research at the IMC or TMU Archives and Special Collections for a minimum of one (1) to a maximum of three (3) months, between February 1, 2024 and February 28, 2025.
The Penny Rubinoff Fellowship
This fellowship includes a $5,000 (CAD) stipend for travel, research, and other expenses. Candidates must hold a master’s degree. Candidates’ research should utilize the collections and resources of The Image Centre and Toronto Metropolitan University Archives and Special Collections. The fellow will be expected to carry out their research at the IMC or TMU Archives and Special Collections for a minimum of two (2) to a maximum of six (6) weeks, between February 1, 2024 and February 28, 2025.
The Elaine Ling Fellowship
This fellowship includes a $4,000 (CAD) stipend for travel, research, and other expenses. Candidates must hold or be working toward a master’s degree. Candidates’ research should utilize the collections and resources of The Image Centre and Toronto Metropolitan University Archives and Special Collections. The fellow will be expected to carry out their research at the IMC or TMU Archives and Special Collections for a minimum of one (1) to a maximum of four (4) weeks, between February 1, 2024 and February 28, 2025.
The Wendy Snyder MacNeil Research Fellowship
This fellowship includes a $2,500 (CAD) stipend for travel, research, and other expenses. It is intended to support new perspectives on Wendy Snyder MacNeil’s work and archive, either as a principal subject of investigation or as a point of departure for related research. Candidates must hold or be working toward a master’s degree. Candidates’ research should utilize the collections and resources of The Image Centre and Toronto Metropolitan University Archives and Special Collections. The fellow will be expected to carry out their research at the IMC or TMU Archives and Special Collections for a minimum of one (1) to a maximum of four (4) weeks, between February 1, 2024 and February 28, 2025.
The Howard Tanenbaum Fellowship
This fellowship includes a $2,500 (CAD) stipend for travel, research, and other expenses. Candidates must hold or be working toward a master’s degree or be independent artists or scholars with equivalent experience and demonstrated interests. Candidates’ research should utilize the collections and resources of The Image Centre and Toronto Metropolitan University Archives and Special Collections. The fellow will be expected to carry out their research at the IMC or TMU Archives and Special Collections for a minimum of one (1) to a maximum of four (4) weeks, between February 1, 2024 and February 28, 2025.
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Applications for 2024 fellowships must be sent to Dr. Thierry Gervais via email to imagecentre.research@torontomu.ca no later than September 30, 2023, by 5:00 p.m. EST. The application must include the following:
1. A project proposal (approximately 1,000 words) that outlines the subject, the originality of the research, its foundation in the collections at the IMC or TMU Archives and Special Collections, and the applicant’s scholarly abilities to address the subject. The first line of the proposal must indicate which fellowship(s) the applicant is seeking.
2. Curriculum Vitae.
3. One sample of written work (maximum 20 pages). For artists applying to the Howard Tanenbaum Fellowship, an example of previous film or video work (maximum 10 minutes long) may be submitted instead of a writing sample.
These first three components must be gathered into one PDF document with the filename saved as: FirstnameLastname2024-Application.pdf. If film or video is being submitted instead of a writing sample, a link to view the file must be included in the candidate’s application email, and the proposal and CV should be gathered into one PDF document. The applicant should indicate in the subject line: Application for IMC 2024 Fellowship.
4. One letter of recommendation from someone in a position to characterize the applicant’s scholarly or artistic abilities to successfully carry out the proposed project. The letter should be emailed directly from the referee to imagecentre.research@torontomu.ca and must be received before the application deadline. The referee should indicate in the subject line: Reference for IMC 2024 Fellowship Applicant for [Applicant’s Full Name]. The letter should be submitted as a PDF with the filename: ApplicantFirstnameApplicantLastname2024-Reference.pdf.
