Call for Graduate Public Humanities Programming 2026-27

Application deadline for 2026-27: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 11:59 PM

Application Information Session & Workshop: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, TIME TBD.

About

Master’s and Doctoral students in any discipline at UW-Milwaukee are invited to propose an event or program to the Center for 21st Century Studies for the Spring 2027 semester. Selected submissions will be developed in collaboration with C21 staff and will be provided with a working budget of $1,000. This event programming offers a hands-on opportunity that will make a strong addition to any graduate CV. Applications may be submitted by individual students or groups. C21 reserves the right to have final approval of all projects. 

C21 is seeking proposals that take up the theme of Slow Action – a mode of engagement that purposefully resists the logic of zero-sum efficiency in favor of durable, values-rooted ways of being and doing together. The theme invites graduates to investigate critical questions surrounding forms of action are not rigid or unchangeable but rather are flexible, responsive, and deeply attuned to the world we each move through. While strikes, protests, and other visible forms of collective action capture immediate public attention, they are made possible only by the slower, less visible work of building trust, forming coalitions, and sustaining shared commitments across time. It is this foundational labor – patient, relational, and often unrecognized – that Slow Action seeks to illuminate.

All project proposals MUST include a public-facing component or other tangible final deliverable that will be presented or disseminated on C21’s Day of Action, a day of events celebrating the Slow Action theme, slated for April or early May 2027. (Currently, planned offerings for the Day of Action include a panel discussion, an artist-led workshop, a curated story slam, and an afterparty.)

Proposals MUST:

  • Be rooted in, or linked to, humanities practices
  • Include a component that is accessible to the public
  • Be achievable by May 28, 2026 (including time for any post-production) with a $1k budget
  • Related to the Slow Action theme
  • Include a public-facing component or other tangible final deliverable that will be presented or disseminated on C21’s Day of Action
  • Must comply with UWM rules, regulations, and spending restrictions

Possible deliverables might include (but are not limited to):

  • A one-off event or performance that occurs on the Day of Action 
  • Series of community-driven and/or publicly engaged events with one component that occurs on the Day of Action 
  • Series of academic events with one component that occurs on the Day of Action 
  • Visual art exhibition with open hours during the Day of Action, or a catalog that is distributed on the Day of Action
  • Original research, writing, or other publication that aligns with Slow Action, to be presented or distributed on the Day of Action   
  • An experimental educational toolkit that aligns with Slow Action, distributed on the Day of Action 
  • A digital humanities project, such as a short documentary, multimedia publication, interactive map, or online archive that aligns with Slow Action that can be accessed on the Day of Action 

In addition to funding, C21 will provide administrative oversight for Day of Action, and can provide some additional assistance coordinating logistics, making connections, communicating about your project, and limited graphic design support. Any events produced for your project will be included in C21’s event calendar and promoted as a C21-supported program. C21 can also provide a dedicated working space for programming endeavors, which may include private office space and/or access to one of three reservable meeting spaces.

Please note that funds are provided by UWM. Expenditures must therefore adhere to any regulations, guidelines, or restrictions mandated by UWM and the College of Letters & Science.

How to Apply

Please expand the boxes below to review submission requirements. We encourage applicants to draft their answers to the application questions in a separate document and then paste their answers into the application form.

Applicant Information

Principal Graduate Student’s full name, UWM email address, Grad degree type (MA, MS, PhD, etc), and department, plus the Event/Programming title/name.

Application Questions

Applications, which should not exceed 1500 words, should answer the following questions:

  1. Write a concise overview of the project that includes key outcomes (limit of 100 words) 
  2. What question or challenge is the event addressing?
  3. How does this align with C21’s 2026-2027 theme of Slow Action**?
  4. Describe the event/program you wish to pursue. Describe the deliverable for Day of Action. What is your estimated timeline for tasks?
  5. What does a successful event look like to you and/or your team?
  6. Why is this particular project important to you and your discipline?
  7. What are the estimated costs? (Use this space to explain the purposes of any expenses listed in your attached budget.)
  8.  What administrative and/or programmatic support might you need from C21 staff? 

** Slow Action will explore how the practices, methodologies, histories, and theories of collective organizing across communities and institutions might provide insight for building values-rooted systems and deliberate actionable pathways that endure over time to support shared goals.  

Attachments/Links
  • Required attachments:
    • Project budget (XLS, DOC, or PDF; 1 MB max)
    • CV/Resume for each graduate student involved with planning
  • Optional links:
    • Relevant work samples (no more than three work samples total, between links and attachments)
    • Professional or project website
Submit your 2026-27 Grad Programming application

Questions?

C21 strongly encourages questions and inquiries in advance of submissions.

  • Please contact C21 Graduate Fellow Chloe Kwiatkowski kwiatk52@uwm.edu with questions.

C21 Leadership Team will host a hybrid information session on Friday, September 25, time TBD.

  • In person: 939 Curtin Hall
  • Remote option: Teams link to be released in Fall 2026
  • This session will cover information on the Slow Action theme, the Day of Action, programming, tips on writing a strong application, and frequently asked questions.   
  • Attending the information session is not required to apply, but is highly encouraged.