Weiss/Brown Publication Subvention Award

With support from the Roger W. Weiss and Howard Mayer Brown Fund in its endowment, the Newberry Library will award up to $15,000 to subsidize the publication of a scholarly book or books on European civilization before 1700 in the areas of music, theater, cultural studies, or French or Italian literature. Authors must document that their projects have been accepted for publication and provide detailed information regarding the publication and the subvention request.

The purpose of this award is to enable the publication of works of the highest quality either:

• by making it possible to publish a work in a particularly appropriate way (with special typography, plates, or appendices, for example) that would otherwise be prohibitively expensive; or
• by significantly reducing the cover price, allowing the publication to reach a wider audience.

Once these criteria are met, preference will be given to publications that:

• are unique, unusual in concept, or execution, or that represent a departure from the normal habits of a given publishing house or entity, or bring into print previously unpublished source materials.
• promise to reach the broadest possible audience for the type of book envisioned.

Applications for the Weiss/Brown Award should include:

1. A letter of application (including title, summary of content, as much physical description of the volume as is available, and expected publication date).
2. The author's curriculum vitae.
3. A copy of the publication contract or other evidence of commitment by the publisher to publish the book.
4. Copies of the reader's reports on the manuscript, or equivalent outside evaluations.
5. A production budget and schedule including specific costs for which the Weiss/Brown subsidy is requested and the publisher’s deadline for receipt of funds.

Applications should be sent to: The Committee on Awards, The Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St., Chicago, IL 60610 by January 10, 2009. Faxed applications will not be accepted. Awardees will be notified approximately six weeks after the deadline. The award will be paid to the publisher; as a condition of accepting funds, publishers must include an acknowledgement of the award in the publication and provide the Newberry Library with a copy of the book.

If you have additional questions about the Weiss/Brown Award, please contact research@newberry.org.

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