Applications are available for the Fellowship Research Grant Program 2025, which was launched in the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation. This highly prestigious grant program supports research that focuses on Louisiana’s varied musical, cultural, and cultural heritage with a strong dedication to the preservation and promotion of the global jazz scene and documentation of culture.
The fellowship grants the opportunity to receive $5,000 for research to independent, academic, or community-based scholars who are engaged in significant research. To Nigerian or African scholars, the fellowship gives them the chance to study comparative music, the history of music, and the preservation of heritage within a framework of international cooperation.
Deadline: November 15, 2025
About the Fellowship
The Fellowship Research Grant Program seeks to stimulate creative scholarship that enhances the knowledge of the archives of the Jazz and Heritage Archives’ collection and encourages new projects for documentation that relate to Louisiana’s legacy of culture.
The initiative promotes global collaboration between academics by granting researchers who produce primary material, including interviews, field recordings, or other multimedia documents that advance the field of heritage studies.
It is a reflection of the Foundation’s mission of conducting research to preserve music traditions as well as celebrate diversity and enhance intercultural connections across cultures around the world.
Funding and Grant Details
The selected fellows will be awarded the only one-time grant for research of $5,500 that is directly financed through the Jazz & Heritage Archive. The grant assists projects of all phases of research, from initial study to fieldwork and documentation.
The funds can be used to:
- Field research and travel expenses
- Data collection and archive visits
- Visual, audio, or digital documentation
- Materials and equipment for research
- Community-based collaboration
Eligibility Criteria
The program is accessible to academic or independent scholars who have proven evidence of their research or professional achievement.
The applicants could include:
- Faculty members at universities or postgraduate researchers
- Independent cultural historians
- Archivists and curators
- Performers or musicians who document the history of
- Community-based or non-profit cultural researchers
International applicants, including applicants from Nigeria as well as the other African nations, are strongly encouraged to apply for admission to encourage cross-border academic dialogue and exchange of culture.
Each applicant is permitted only one application in total, and late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
How to Apply – Application Procedure
Candidates must follow the below steps:
- Check out this grant application site for the Jazz and Heritage Foundation.
- Fill out the online application (paper submissions will not be accepted).
- Make sure you attach and organize the following items:
- Proposal for research (3-5 pages) detailing the purpose, method, and their significance
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Plan of budgeting out the use of the grant of $5,000
- Timeline for the research phase and project timeframe for the project
- A reference note (optional, however highly recommended)
- Make sure to submit your application before November 15, 2025.
The applicants should keep the original copies of their documents because the form submitted can’t be changed after the submission. To make technical corrections, applicants should get in touch with the Foundation’s Grants Department.
Evaluation Process
Applications are reviewed with an expert group, based on the following guidelines:
- Originality and value for scholarly research of the subject
- Relevance to the cultural heritage of Louisiana
- The potential to create new primary sources or archive materials
- Clarity and feasibility of research design
- Contribution to greater community and academic understanding of jazz and its culture
Candidates who are successful will be informed via email, and the results will be announced publicly via the site of the Foundation.
Why This Grant Matters
The Fellowship Research Grant Program helps to strengthen international collaboration in research and encourages the preservation of the musical heritage.
In the case of Nigerian as well as African scholars, it is the opportunity to:
- Funding for fieldwork and documentation of cultural heritage projects
- Work with global music organizations and heritage institutions
- Enhance research visibility by publishing and archiving
- Establish connections with international networks in the fields of ethnomusicology and jazz.
The grant also supports comparative studies that examine African influence on global jazz and traditional movements by bringing together the academic worlds of continents.
Submission Tips
- Make your plan in advance to avoid any last-minute technical problems.
- The emphasis should be on originality and contributions to the preservation of culture.
- Find out how your research is aligned with the objectives for the Jazz & Heritage Archive.
- Use clear, easy-to-understand language that is appropriate for international reviewers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who can apply for this fellowship?
Any academic, independent, or community researcher with experience in cultural or musical studies.
2. Is it open to international applicants?
Yes, applications are open globally, including scholars from Nigeria and Africa.
3. What is the grant amount?
Each selected recipient will receive $5,000.
4. Can I apply more than once?
No, only one submission per applicant is allowed.
5. What kind of research is eligible?
Projects related to Louisiana’s music, heritage, and artistic culture—or comparative global studies.
6. Is there an application fee?
No, participation is free.
7. How will winners be notified?
Selected fellows will receive an official notification via email.
8. Can I make changes after submission?
No, forms cannot be edited after submission, but corrections can be requested through the Grants Department.
9. What is the duration of the fellowship?
The program typically supports projects for 6–9 months.
10. When does the next application cycle open?
The next cycle is expected in late 2026, depending on available funding.
Conclusion
The Fellowship Research Grant Program 2025 is a fantastic opportunity for scholars from all over the world to help preserve and grow the global legacy of jazz and the cultural heritage. Nigerian researchers, in particular, could benefit from this opportunity to draw attention to African influences on music and to strengthen the ties between universities around the world.
This program shows how research can help protect culture and promote the development of creativity throughout generations.