Dialogues on the Experiences of War

Overview

This notice solicits applications for the Dialogues on the Experience of War program, which supports the study and discussion of humanities sources about diverse experiences of military service and war through projects that draw on the humanities to connect veterans and civilians.

Dialogues Project Requirements: 

1. Discussion programs: The convening of at least two sustained discussion series focused on humanities resources and themes that address the experiences of war and military service. Each series should convene approximately fifteen participants who will attend all sessions. Sessions may be in person, virtual, or in a hybrid format, but they must provide enough time to build intellectual community among the participants. 

Discussion programs must: 

• treat at least two different wars in depth 
• focus on the close study of humanities sources with a diverse range of perspectives (drawn from genres such as oral histories, visual art, memoirs, military biographies, speeches and letters, philosophical writings, documentary films, and fiction) 
• engage participants in deep discussion of the selected humanities sources and the issues that they raise 
• convene participants in person, virtually, or in hybrid formats for recurring sessions that include enough time to build trust and intellectual community and foster sustained and inclusive dialogue

2. Preparatory programs: The creation of an in-person or virtual preparatory program to recruit, train, select, and mentor individuals to serve as discussion leaders for the series. Projects may prepare a larger cohort of discussion leaders if they wish to have them serve as co-facilitators or as alternates, with a suggested minimum of one facilitator working with no more than fifteen participants.

Depending on the needs of your group, preparatory programs may include: 

• close study of the humanities sources at the heart of the discussions 
• modeling and practice in leading humanities discussions (e.g., posing questions designed to explore texts and elicit discussion of the texts’ contemporary relevance; articulating rules of civil discourse; encouraging group inquiry; moderating disagreements) 
• development of discussion leaders’ knowledge and awareness of the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of military veterans and service members 
• criteria for the selection of preparatory program participants and of those who serve as discussion leaders 
• plans to mentor, support, and evaluate discussion leaders throughout the period of performance

At a minimum, each project must include at least two basic evaluations: 

• A survey of discussion leaders after completion of the preparatory program 
• A survey of participants in the discussion groups

Anticipated Award Announcement: April 2024 

Estimated Number and Type of Awards: Approximately 10 grants 

Period of Performance: 12 to 24 months; Projects must start between May 1, 2024, and September 1, 2024.