中美非物质文化遗产论坛

The FICH exchange program will enable 1-2 folklorists from China to spend a residency period of several weeks sometime between March and June 2013 in the United States, and 1-2 folklorists from the United States to spend several weeks in China during that same time. During that time, participants will take part in a variety of activities: for example, visiting folklore programs in universities, in non-profit organizations, and in government; interacting with folklore colleagues from the other country; visiting sites of ethnographic interest; and presenting their own work.

 

The larger FICH program—supported by grants from the Henry Luce Foundation and the Asian Cultural Council—is undertaking this exchange program, and a series of conferences on comparative China-US cultural policy, with the goal of building sustainable long-term relationships between folklorists and folklore organizations in China and the US. (For more information on the FICH program, please visit www.afsnet.org/?page=FICH.) The goal of the exchange program in particular is to identify future leaders of our field in both countries, and to offer them the opportunity to start and build ongoing professional connections that will serve them well as their careers progress. In order to achieve these goals, we will give priority to applications from younger folklorists (though applicants do need to be beyond their student years).

 

Each professional exchange will be designed to combine professional experiences related to each person’s interests in our field, and those that will introduce her or him to a selection of the major organizations and people in our field in the country they are visiting.

 

This program is not intended only for China specialists from the US, or for US specialists from China. We welcome applications from folklorists with many professional interests, and will work to connect those we select with colleagues with comparable interests. Some knowledge of the language of the host country is helpful, but is not required.

 

The program will provide support for all travel expenses (including visa fees, international and domestic travel, accommodations, and meals), for the costs of residency experiences provided by hosts, and for incidental expenses. All participants will provide a written report to AFS on their exchange visit, which will be translated and shared with colleagues in both countries, and will present an oral version of this report at an AFS annual meeting or at an equivalent event in China.

 

Applications for the exchange program will be reviewed by a committee of representatives from the FICH partner organizations in the applicant’s home country, with consultation provided by FICH partner representatives from the other country.

 

The criteria for review of applications will include the following:

 

1. Professional commitment to the field of folklore studies

2. Past and present leadership activities in the field, or the potential for future leadership

3. The likelihood that we will be able to arrange suitable professional experiences at the times that the visit is possible

 

To apply, please email AFS Executive Director Dr. Timothy Lloyd (at lloyd.100@osu.edu) two PDF files by December 1, 2012:

 

1. A letter that:

· describes your interest in this program, and in particular your commitment to long-term international engagement

· explains how you meet the criteria listed just above

· outlines your ideas for possible activities for your exchange visit, including information about any folklorists, folklore academic programs, or folklore organizations in the host country with whom you have already developed contact and would like to work with during your stay

· specifies the times between March 1, 2013, and June 30, 2013, when you will be free to take part in the program

 

2. A resume or CV, with the names and contact information of three people willing to serve as professional references for you

You may submit these PDFs in Chinese or in English.