Pasold research grants are awarded to fund high quality research, relating to all branches of textile history. Applications are encouraged for projects where there will be a lasting outcome in the form of a publication or an exhibition or similar. This includes conservation related projects, leading to publications, but excludes the purchase or repair of objects and the purchase of hardware (eg cameras or computing equipment or computer software).

Applications will also be considered where preliminary work is needed for the preparation of a more substantial grant application to one of the major funding bodies. Applications may also be made to fund conference attendance – these applications may come from individuals or from conference organisers seeking funding for a named applicant. However, it is important to provide an abstract of the paper and details of the nature of the conference and its significance. Where a conference organiser is seeking support for a named delegate details of the conference, a CV of the delegate and title and abstract of the paper are required. A copy of the full paper should be supplied following the conference.

All successful grant applicants, where appropriate, will be encouraged to consider submitting the outcome of their research to Textile History. Publication would of course be subject to editorial refereeing and decision.

Grants specifically in aid of publication, for a contribution towards illustrations essential to the quality of research output, will be considered where a clear case is made explaining the way these will enhance the text and why they cannot be funded in other ways.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PASOLD RESEARCH FUND WILL NOT FUND SALARIES, ONLY RESEARCH EXPENSES SUCH AS TRAVEL, SUBSISTENCE, PHOTOCOPYING, MICROFILMING AND SIMILAR. WE DO NOT ACCEPT RETROSPECTIVE APPLICATIONS. ALL COSTINGS MUST BE IN STERLING

DETAILS AND DEADLINES FOR RESEARCH GRANTS 

1. Applications for grants under £500 may be made at any time.
2. There are two deadlines for applications between £501 and £1000: 1 October and 15 February. Applicants will be notified of decisions within 3 months.
3. For applications between £1001 and £3000 there is a single application date of 30 April. Applicants will be notified within 3 months.
4. Research Grant applications are welcomed from PhD students, registered at UK institutions, for grants up to £1000 (see deadlines 1 and 2 above). These must be accompanied by a sealed letter of recommendation from the supervisor(s). Where applicable, a case should be made that explains why such research expenses were not included in institutional or research council funding. Applications from PhD students for amounts over £1000 can ONLY be made under the PhD Bursary scheme (see below).
5. There is a category of small grants of up to £500 for students on MA programmes. The deadline is 15 April.

THE CRITERIA APPLIED IN JUDGING RESEARCH GRANT APPLICATIONS, which can be in any area of the history of textiles including multidisciplinary approaches, are as follows:

1. Originality and rigour of the research, especially where the study of the history of textiles is being approached from a new angle, using new sources or new methodology. You must demonstrate that the history of textiles is the central area of concern and study.
2. The care given to laying out of objectives and design of the research.
3. The viability of the research within the timescale laid out and the research training or experience of the applicant.
4. The contribution of the research in terms of publications, the development of web based materials, exhibitions or similar.
5. Referees’ reports (at least one nominated referee should be from outside the applicant's own institution).

SOME REASONS WHY WE TURN RESEARCH GRANTS DOWN
Competition for our grants has grown significantly in the last few years. We are sometimes surprised by the poor presentation of applications. We thought it would help applicants to know the most common reasons for grants being turned down:

1. Applications in which the history of textiles is peripheral and not central to research (if in doubt please make preliminary enquiries to the Director).
2. Applications which fail to convey the scope and significance of the research and its wider contribution. If it is necessary for applicants to write at length they should not confine themselves to the short space on the form. You are invited to use a continuation sheet. Many applicants ignore this.
3. Applications where the costings are incomplete, inaccurate, do not give totals and sub-totals, are not in £ sterling or where you have not investigated the cheapest method of transport.
4. Applications for travel to conferences which do not provide an abstract of the paper or the significance of the conference – a title is not enough.
5. Carelessly prepared applications.

We prefer application forms to be submitted electronically to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

They can also be posted to the address below:

Dr Giorgio Riello, c/o Amy Evans, Pasold Research Fund, Global History and Culture Centre, Department of History, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom