The American Quilt Study Group

• The American Quilt Study Group (AQSG) is a member-based nonprofit quilt research organization that promotes and encourages individuals and people interested in the history of quilt making. Members within this organization leverage the organization's "publications, annual seminar, its extensive research library, and contacts to partake in preserving the quilt heritage.
• The AQSG is among the earliest and most influential member organizations that focus on quilt history and related studies.
• Typical members of the AQSG include "traditional and contemporary quilt artists, quilt lovers, historians, researchers, collectors, dealers, folklorists, authors, museum curators, quilt appraisers, and students of women's studies."

Paid Opportunities

• The AQSG offers some grant opportunities for quilt-related research and writing, including the Lucy Hilty Research Grant, H. Mark Dunn Research Grant, and Sue Cummings Research Grant.

Lucy Hilty Research Grant

• The Lucy Hilty Research Grant is awarded primarily to fund quilt-related research, specifically regarding the documentation of "quilts, quiltmakers, textile production of quilt fabrics, quilt making techniques and the quilting industry, as well as matters relating to or documenting of material cultural influences on quiltmaking."
• Projects that directly impact quilt scholarships are of special interest and are a factor in the selection process, alongside the proposal's quality.
• This scholarship typically awards around $2,000 in grants annually. The organization often divides this funding among awardees into the amounts of $500 or $1,000.

Who Can Apply

• Individuals or groups engaged in quilt-related research/studies are permitted to apply for the Lucy Hilty Research Grant. Such individuals/groups could include but are not limited to "educators, historians, curators, graduate students, undergraduate students, quilt restorers & conservators, textile science & technologists, textile industry students, and other independent scholars."

When to Apply

• The application deadline for the Lucy Hilty Research Grant is typically every February 1. The date only changes if February 1 falls on a weekend, in which case it would be moved to the next business day after the weekend.
• On occasion, the deadline might be waived in the case of extenuating circumstances.

How to Apply

• To apply for the Lucy Hilty Research Grant, interested applicants must submit five copies of the proposal to the AQSG office by February 1 of the application year. The submission channels include "Priority mail, United Parcel Service, or Federal Express."
• The AQSG office will not accept an electronic submission, and applicants are advised to request a return receipt, delivery confirmation, or tracking number for record purposes. The application will be processed after the office receives all the required documents.

Other Sources for Grants/Scholarships for Quilt-Related Research & Writing

• Other organizations that offer grants/scholarships for quilt-related research & writing include, but are not limited to, the International Quilting Organization and the National Quilting Association.

Summary

• There are several paid opportunities for quilt-related research and writing. While most of the findings yielded information for nonprofits who offer grants/scholarships for the same, there might be paid opportunities from private and for-profit organizations as well.
• Most of the research findings yielded results for the US mainly. However, there could be opportunities in other geographic locations across the world.