In 2016, we published a survey study on the state of the Heritage field in King County. The findings showed a need for skill-based training and professional development opportunities for practitioners in the field. While many conferences and trainings are available nationwide, attending can be cost-prohibitive—our expanded stipend program aims to close the gap.

Stipends of $200 to $600 are now available to subsidize the cost of registration, travel, and lodging for conferences or trainings provided by a heritage professional association. Eligible applicants must be over 18 years old, a King County resident, and a staff member, board member, volunteer, or intern at a heritage organization in King County, or a consultant, service provider, or independent historian who primarily works with King County heritage. There is no deadline—applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. You may apply multiple times, but can only receive one award per year. Please note that we offer a separate stipend to attend the Washington Museums Association annual conference.

The application will consist of the following questions:

• Name of the presenting organization and title, date, and location of the professional development opportunity.
• Will you attend this conference as a presenter? If yes, title of your presentation and presenting format (panel, keynote, tabling, poster session, etc.).
• Your current status with a King County heritage museum or organization. If you are not affiliated with a specific institution, please describe your connection to King County heritage field.
• Volunteer or Intern applicant – Name and contact information of Volunteer Manager or your supervisor for reference
• Please explain how this opportunity and your participation will address new thinking or solutions to one or more key findings of the Heritage Report.
• Please explain how your participation will impact your career and your professional development. How will you utilize the information, connections, and inspirations you gain from attending this opportunity for your professional goals?
• Please explain how you plan to share information or use the training in your affiliated institution or your practice. How will your colleagues, your clients, or your affiliated institution benefit from you attending this opportunity? Alignment with your affiliated institution’s strategic goals is a plus but not required.
• Itemized budget of conference attendance and how you plan to subsidize the cost if the requested amount does not cover the entire cost. Please explain your institution’s policy on funding staff’s professional development.

To apply, please contact Megumi Nagata at megumi.nagata@4culture.org to begin the process, and include “Heritage Professional Development Stipends” in the email subject.

We will review applications based on the following criteria:

• Evidence of research on the cost, the conference/training, and the presenting organization.
• How clearly your interests and goals for your career, affiliated institution, and the heritage field are articulated.
• How well you connect your interests to the conference or training.
• How well you demonstrate your plan to share information or use knowledge for your affiliate institution.
• How well you draw connections between your reasons for attending the conference or training and the Heritage Report key findings. Presenting in some capacity is a plus but not required (includes tabling).
• Whether your affiliated institution funds professional development for staff.

We will notify all qualified applicants via email within four weeks of recevining an application. To receive payment, recipients must provide an attendance report and a final expense sheet to 4Culture. The attendance report should include a narrative about your experience at the training or conference, findings or lessons learned, and, if presenting, how many attended your session.

For questions, please contact: Megumi Nagata, 4Culture Heritage Support Specialist, megumi.nagata@4culture.org or 206-263-3474.