Theorizing Cultural Heritage

Cultural heritage is today a rubric of ever-expanding scope. It is used globally as a basis for multinational, national, state, and local programs and governance. Cultural heritage is also the focus of ideas and programs generated by hundreds of non-governmental organizations, community-based and advocacy groups, and even businesses. Yet the concept of "cultural heritage" is vastly under-theorized. It has lacked an academic, disciplinary base; has generated only an attenuated theoretical literature; and has generally left the bearers of cultural heritage out of the discussion.

Rockefeller Foundation Humanities Fellows at the Smithsonian Institution Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage help refine the theoretical framework for cultural heritage and expand it to include grassroots voices. Reflecting the perspectives of academic specialists, civil society groups, and public cultural organizations, fellows' work informs dialogues and practice across social, political, and disciplinary boundaries, as well as indicating future directions for policy.

The Smithsonian hosts six to eight fellows for each of three years to work on the theoretical development of the concept of cultural heritage. Fellows examined the relationship between cultural heritage and political representation (2004-05) and the economics of cultural heritage (2005-06); the third year of the program (2006-07) concentrates on the arts. The fellows are humanities-oriented thinkers and practitioners engaged in the work of academic institutions, public organizations, and cultural communities.

The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage—where cultural heritage is the subject of ongoing, daily intellectual and practical activity—hosts the fellows. Given the Center's location in Washington, D.C., and its strong connections to international and national institutions, service organizations, and nongovernmental and community groups, fellows partake of a rich environment and find colleagues and cultural policymakers deeply interested in their work.

Applicants need not be U.S. citizens to be eligible, and approximately half of the fellows are drawn from outside the United States. Fellowships include a stipend and an allowance for travel to and from Washington, D.C., as necessary. Please note: These fellowships are not intended to support undergraduate or graduate studies, or research. Projects will not be considered for the re-writing of dissertations, editing of texts, or the preparation of textbooks or anthologies. Applicants whose native language is not English are expected to have a sufficiently good command of spoken English so that they can fully discuss, debate, and exchange ideas and practices about cultural heritage.

Application Process for 2006-07 Fellowships: The deadline for letters of interest has passed.

For further information contact:
Carla Borden or James Early
Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
Smithsonian Institution
P.O. Box 37012
Victor Building 4100
Washington, DC 20013-7012
(202) 275-1461 or (202) 275-1576
fax (202) 275-1119
e-mail <culturalheritagefellows@si.edu>
Note: Address for express mail is 750 9th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001.

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