Call for Proposals: Media Studies Grant Program

The FIAT/IFTA Media Studies Grant Program supports small-scale research projects that advance understanding of audiovisual archives and their societal, cultural, and professional value. Researchers worldwide can apply for up to €3,500 to conduct impact-oriented studies that strengthen broadcast archival practice, with selected projects presented at the FIAT/IFTA World Conference in October 2026.

Overview of the Grant Program

The FIAT/IFTA Media Studies Grant Program invites researchers to submit proposals for small-scale, high-impact research projects focused on audiovisual archives and broadcast archival practice.

The programme is designed to place academic research in direct dialogue with the real-world needs, challenges, and daily practices of FIAT/IFTA member archives and the wider audiovisual archiving community.

Key Research Priorities and Focus Areas

The programme prioritises research that contributes to both scholarly knowledge and practical archival impact.

Prioritised Research Domains

Applicants are encouraged to address one or more of the following themes:

• Societal value of audiovisual archives

• The role of archives in shaping memory, identity, and collective history

• Challenges of precarity, fragile collections, and obsolete technologies

• Latin American archival contexts and their global relevance

• Strengthening professional archival practice and community engagement

Research Outside the Priority Areas

Proposals outside these domains are still eligible if they clearly demonstrate:

• Direct relevance to broadcast archives

• Tangible benefits for archival practice

• Meaningful impact for archive professionals and communities

What the Grant Supports

The Media Studies Grant is flexible and designed to support practical research needs.

Funding Amount

• Standard grant: up to €3,500

• Higher budgets may be considered if strongly justified by project quality, relevance, and cost-effectiveness

Eligible Expenses

Grant funding may be used for:

• Research time buyouts

• Internships or student research assistance

• Necessary travel for research purposes

• Attendance at the FIAT/IFTA World Conference (registration fee waived)

All costs must be clearly justified and aligned with the proposed research activities.

Who Is Eligible?

The programme is open to a broad international research community.

Eligible Applicants

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Junior or senior researchers worldwide

• Affiliated with a university or research institute

• PhD candidates are eligible with a formal letter of supervisory support

• Research projects may be stand-alone studies or part of a larger research initiative

Projects should ideally demonstrate relevance to FIAT/IFTA member archives or the broader audiovisual archival field.

Why This Grant Matters

Audiovisual archives face growing challenges related to technology change, funding insecurity, and social relevance.

This grant matters because it:

• Bridges academic research and professional archival practice

• Strengthens evidence-based approaches to archive management

• Elevates the societal and cultural value of broadcast archives

• Supports underrepresented archival contexts, including Latin America

• Encourages creative and accessible dissemination of research findings

How to Apply

Application Requirements

Applications must be no more than 1,000 words and include:

• Project rationale and background

• Research questions and objectives

• Description of archival materials or collections involved

• Relevance to archive communities and FIAT/IFTA members

• Planned outputs and deliverables

• Workplan and timeline

• Budget breakdown and justification

• Communication and dissemination strategy

All proposed outputs must be achievable within the supported project duration.

Submission Process

1. Prepare the application as a single PDF document

2. Ensure all required elements are included and within word limits

3. Submit the application by email to the designated address

4. Deadline for submission: 15 March 2026

5. Await notification and, if selected, sign a funding agreement

Project Outputs and Deliverables

Successful applicants are expected to produce multiple outputs by the end of the grant period.

Mandatory Outputs

• A written research report meeting scholarly standards, tailored to broadcast archivists

• A presentation at the FIAT/IFTA World Conference in São Paulo, 6–9 October 2026

• A short video highlighting key findings, discoveries, or inspirations from the research

Additional Dissemination

Applicants are encouraged to explore creative dissemination formats, provided:

• Outputs are free of copyright restrictions

• Content can be shared openly within the archival community

Reporting and Monitoring

Grant recipients must:

• Sign a formal funding agreement

• Provide regular progress updates to the FIAT/IFTA Media Studies Commission

• Complete all agreed deliverables within the project timeframe

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting proposals with unclear relevance to archival practice

• Failing to demonstrate impact for FIAT/IFTA member archives

• Incomplete budgets or unjustified cost items

• Proposals that exceed the 1,000-word limit

• Unrealistic timelines or output commitments

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the maximum funding available?

Applicants may request up to €3,500, with higher amounts considered only when clearly justified.

Are researchers outside Europe eligible?

Yes. The grant is open to researchers worldwide.

Can PhD candidates apply?

Yes, provided they submit a formal letter of supervisory support.

Can the research be part of a larger project?

Yes. Both stand-alone projects and components of larger research initiatives are eligible.

Is conference attendance required?

Yes. Grant recipients must present their findings at the FIAT/IFTA World Conference in October 2026.

Are travel costs eligible?

Yes. Necessary research travel and conference-related travel may be included in the budget.

What language should the application be submitted in?

Applications should be submitted in English unless otherwise specified by FIAT/IFTA.

Conclusion

The FIAT/IFTA Media Studies Grant Program offers a targeted opportunity for researchers to conduct practice-oriented, impactful research that strengthens audiovisual archives and their communities.

By supporting small-scale studies with clear professional relevance and strong dissemination, the programme reinforces the vital role of broadcast archives in preserving memory, identity, and cultural heritage worldwide.