In June 2020, the British Association for Romantic Studies announced its unequivocal support of the Black community, its condemnation of all forms of racism and its commitment to practical action. In response to the enduring and systemic damage caused by racism, the BARS Executive commenced a programme of initiatives focused on the histories and literatures of People of Colour. Among these initiatives is the BARS President’s Fellowship, which was officially announced at last summer’s virtual conference, Romantic Disconnections/Reconnections 2021.
We are delighted to announce that the recipient of the first President’s Fellowship is Ifemu Yaa Omari, who is based at the University of Wolverhampton. Ifemu’s proposed project will culminate in the production of an online resource focused on the texts and paratextual materials included in Mary Prince’s The History of Mary, A West Indian Slave (1831).
The President’s Fellowship is open to scholars from Black, indigenous and other minority ethnic backgrounds working on any aspect of Romantic Studies to support research, teaching and/or public outreach expenses up to £1500. Expenses may include, but are not limited to, costs emerging from: travel and accommodation for research-focused or archival visits; photocopying and digitisation; caring commitments; producing and circulating teaching resources; organising and delivering public outreach activities; setting up and running networks or collaborations; set-up and maintenance costs for online platforms such as blogs and websites.
Applicants to the scheme should be members of BARS at the time of the award, and the competition is open to postgraduate, early career and independent scholars. Awards are made on the significance and relevance of the project rather than on the career status or affiliation of the applicant. After the completion of the award, fellows are asked to submit a written report for publication on the BARS blog.
Daniel Cook
BARS Bursary Officer
16 December 2022