Events & Initiatives Funding

Financial support

Funding for events and initiatives

Up to £1000 is available for one-day events, £2000 for two-day events, and £1000 for other kinds of initiative. For events, this funding may be used to contribute to the costs of speaker travel, hospitality, and accommodation. Full administrative and in-kind logistical support (event planning, management and promotion) will also be provided. It is also possible to apply for administrative and logistical support without funding.

Convenors are free to seek additional funding to cover costs above the level funding provided by CRASSH. A list of other potential funding sources can be found under the ‘Additional Funding’ tab.

Budgets should be carefully justified: it may be an advantage to apply for less than the maximum amount, unless there is a clear need for higher funding

It is CRASSH’s policy not to pay for publications.

Applications for financial support always automatically include administrative and logistical assistance.

Please note that funds cannot be carried over to the next academic year and any unspent sums below the maximum agreed will revert to the CRASSH events and initiatives support fund.

For events, please take a look at our sample budget. A breakdown of costs is required for applications for other initiatives.

Applications are open for events and initiatives taking place between April and July 2025 and will close on 21 October 2024.

Logistical support

Logistical support includes:

• venue: CRASSH is based in the Alison Richard Building and there is generally more room availability on Friday’s in terms time. Out of term as space is more readily available, but not guaranteed. We also support events that will take place at other venues in Cambridge.
• budget: devising a budget, setting up conference account to manage income and expenditure, online delegate registration/payment, producing final accounts
• CRASSH webpage: creating event pages that includes registration, event summary, calls for papers, posters, event programme, links, and convenor information. Additional content can also be housed on CRASSH’s site (this can be discussed with the Events Manager)
• publicity: poster design, publicity via email, social media, and the CRASSH blog
• arrangements for speakers: assisting convenors with booking accommodation (usually at a college); reimbursing agreed speakers’ travel costs in line with the University’s travel expenses policy
• catering: arranging lunches and refreshments; assisting with college dinner / restaurant bookings
• support on the day, including registration of participants and production of an online event booklet
• AV assistance: arrangements can be made for AV support; the cost of AV support will be dependent on the specific requirements of the event. Post-event, CRASSH is able to organise the editing of recordings (there is a cost for this) and to promote these
• logistical support for other initiatives, as appropriate.

Event dates

Events can be held both in and out of term.

In the Alison Richard Building, there is generally more room availability on Friday’s in terms time. Out of term as space is more readily available, but not guaranteed. It can also be harder to secure speaker accommodation during term-time when students are in residence.

Please also note that activities in the Alison Richard Building held on Fridays and Saturdays during term (subject to room availability), mean that catering costs may be higher. We suggest that you avoid degree and other ceremony dates, e.g., graduation weekend in June or alumni weekend in September.

Please list a range of preferred dates (in order of desirability) or tell us if dates are fixed. We cannot guarantee that preferred dates will be offered.

We are able to host online events during and out of term time.

Please note that CRASSH’s policy is not to hold any events on Sundays.

Applications are open for events and initiatives taking place between April and July 2025 and will close on 21 October 2024.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria

• The lead applicant must have  a direct affiliation to the University of Cambridge including graduate students, postdocs, and UTOs/CTOs. There must be a reasonable expectation that your connection to the University will still be in place at the time of your proposed event or initiative.
• The convening team must include at least one applicant working in the arts, humanities, and social sciences, and the event or initiative must be substantially connected to a subject within these fields.
• The core convening team should consist of no more than three people.
• The event or initiative should normally take place in the funding period specified for each round, although applications for major events with a longer lead-time may be considered.
• The event or initiative will be run by CRASSH.
• Two days is the maximum length for an event. Initiatives may take place over a longer period of time but should have a clear end-point.
• Any in-person element of an event or initiative must take place in Cambridge.

Applications are open for events and initiatives taking place between April and July 2025 and will close on 21 October 2024.

Selection

Selection criteria

Events and initiatives will be selected by a panel comprising the Director and Administrator of CRASSH, academic staff from the School of Arts and Humanities and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Events Manager. The Events Manager will co-ordinate the selection process and inform the applicants of the result within two weeks of the application deadline.

The selection panel will be looking for proposals that provide a clear and compelling intellectual rationale and take an original approach to a research question or topic. In addition, they should meet at least one of the following criteria:

• tackle a question from a range of disciplinary perspectives
• facilitate cross-regional or cross-cultural dialogues
• explore innovative forms of communication and engagement instead of (or in addition to) the more traditional presentation of papers
• seek out new publics
• involve collaborations with participants or partners from contexts beyond academia (museums, schools, governmental organisations, charities, businesses, etc.)
• take a creative approach to the expected outputs or outcomes of an event or initiative

We also strongly encourage convenors to think about the diversity and sustainability of their event or initiative.

Applications are open for events and initiatives taking place between April and July 2025 and will close on 21 October 2024.