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Call for Global Slavery History Fellowships (GSHF) in Amsterdam

A coalition of Amsterdam based Archives, Museums and Historical institutes* with the generous support of the Insinger Foundation has taken the initiative for a five-year programme that offers three two-month long fellowships per year for curators, archivists and historians in the field of slavery history.

The fellowships are open to professionals working on the history of slavery in the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean and the Indonesian archipelago, linked to the Dutch involvement in  slave trade and slave labour.

The attention to the Dutch colonial slavery past has increased considerably over the last years. Especially communities that were subject to the contemporary ramifications such as systemic racism pushed for acknowledgement and changes in perspectives and priorities within academic institutions, museums and archives. A missing link is the input and expertise of inhabitants of societies that were colonized and where slavery and other forms of forced labour were rampant. The slavery past has a broad and pervasive impact, both in personal histories and the social structures of these societies. The questions, perspectives, and expertise of young professionals (especially historians, archivists, librarians, and curators) from societies affected by this colonial slavery past and its knock-on effects in the Americas, Africa, and Asia are essential to inform contemporary debates about and dealing with the slavery past. The fellowships aim to support this group of young professionals.

Candidates are asked to write a motivation letter and a plan that includes their preference for one of the institutes in GSHF coalition and a rough idea on how they would like to spend their time in Amsterdam and what they expect from they stay.

* Allard Pierson Museum/UB, Amsterdam Museum, Black Archives, IISG, NINSEE, Rijksmuseum, Stadsarchief Amsterdam, UvA, Wereldmuseum

What we offer

  1. The fellowship includes free housing and covers travel costs, health insurance, as well as a monthly allowance of 1500 euros. We expect that the institutions to which candidates are affiliated continue to pay their monthly salaries for the duration of the fellowship.
  2. Each year the programme can accommodate three fellows in the Spring (April-May) and three in the Fall (October-November).
  3. Fellows will be based at the International Institute of Social History and  - by mutual agreement - will be linked to their counterparts working in one of the Amsterdam Institutions united in the GSHF coalition.
  4. The fellowship is meant to exchange perspectives and views between the fellows and their Amsterdam counterparts related to the history of slavery.
  5. At the end of each fellowship period there will be a public event where fellows and their Amsterdam counterparts reflect on the experiences gained during their stay.
  6. The deadline for the call April /May 2025 fellowships is November 20th, 2024.

What we require

  1. Knowledge and background in the history of slavery
  2. CV
  3. Ability to work independently
  4. A reference letter
  5. 2 month presence in Amsterdam

Diversity & Inclusion

The coalition considers a working environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated of great importance. A working environment in which attention is paid to individual quality and where development opportunities are paramount. Together we strive for an inclusive culture in which we embrace differences. We would therefore like to invite candidates who want to contribute to this through their background and experience. In the event of equal suitability, preference will be given to the candidate who thus enhances diversity within the Academy.

We will not respond to any supplier enquiries based on this job advertisement.

Applications can be sent to the International Institute of Social History to the attention of Jacqueline Rutte. Jacqueline.rutte@bb.huc.knaw.nl

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