[Discussion] "Theorizing Cultural Heritage"

[sule tarakcioglu]

*"Theorizing Cultural Heritage" a Rockefeller Foundation Resident
Fellowship in the Humanities and the Study of Culture at the Smithsonian
Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage *
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"Theorizing Cultural Heritage"
is the subject of a Rockefeller Foundation Resident Fellowship in the
Humanities and the Study of Culture at the Smithsonian Center for
Folklife and Cultural Heritage. The Smithsonian is hosting up to six
fellows for each of three years to work on the theoretical development
of the concept of cultural heritage.

Fellows examine the relationship between cultural heritage and political
representation (2004-05), economic pursuits (2005-06), and the arts
(2006-07). The fellows are humanities-oriented thinkers engaged in the
work of academic institutions, public organizations, and cultural
communities.

Applicants for 2005-06 will be interested in developing ideas,
principles, and frameworks for understanding the economic dimensions of
the production, distribution, and/or consumption of cultural heritage.
Keeping in mind the concern with grassroots cultural communities,
applicants will focus their critical inquiry on such issues as cultural
capital, intellectual property, community-based rights, cultural
tourism, employment, and poverty reduction, and will demonstrate
originality of approach and significant potential for making a
contribution to the formulation of cultural heritage policy and practice.

Cultural heritage is today a rubric of ever-expanding scope. It is used
globally as a basis for multinational, national, state, and local
programs. Cultural heritage is also the focus of ideas and programs
generated by hundreds of non-governmental organizations, community-based
and advocacy groups and even businesses. Yet the concept of "cultural
heritage" is vastly under-theorized. It has lacked an academic,
disciplinary base; has generated only an attenuated theoretical
literature; and has generally left the bearers of cultural heritage out
of the discussion.

Rockefeller Foundation Humanities Fellows at the Smithsonian Institution
Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage will help expand and refine
the theoretical framework for cultural heritage to include grassroots
voices. Reflecting the perspectives of academic specialists, civil
society groups, and public cultural organizations, fellows' work will
inform dialogues and practice across social, political, and disciplinary
boundaries, as well as indicate future directions for policy.

The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage--where
cultural heritage is the subject of ongoing, daily intellectual and
practical activity--hosts the fellows. Given the Center's location in
Washington, D.C., and given its strong connections to international and
national institutions, service organizations, nongovernmental and
community groups, fellows partake of an incredibly rich environment and
find colleagues and cultural policymakers strongly interested in their
work.

Applicants need not be U.S. citizens to be eligible.

	Carla Borden or James Early
Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, Smithsonian Institution,
P.O. Box 37012, Victor Building 4100, Washington, DC 20013-7012,
(202) 275-1461 or (202) 275-1576,
fax (202) 275-1119
Email: culturalheritagefellows@si.edu
<mailto:culturalheritagefellows@si.edu>
Visit the website at
http://www.folklife.si.edu/opportunities/fellowships_RF.html