APPLICATION INFORMATION and CONDITIONS
for the Friends of the Hocken Collections Award 2026
Established in 2016, to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Friends of the Hocken Collections, this Award of $10,000 aims to support a research project on some aspect of the historical development of culture and society in New Zealand primarily using the resources of the Hocken Collections. Recipients to date have been Laurence Fearnley and Paul Hersey (2017), and Dr Jonathan West (2020) and Dr Emily Duncan (2023).
Application Submission
The application period for the Award runs from 1 July to 15 October 2025.
During this time, applicants’ queries about the process can be directed to [email protected]
Applications should be emailed to [email protected] (cite FOHC Award 2026 in the subject line).
Or alternatively
Applications may be posted to:
Friends of the Hocken Collections
C/- The Hocken Library, University of Otago
PO Box 56
Dunedin North 9054
Applications may be couriered to:
Friends of the Hocken Collections
C/- The Hocken Library, University of Otago
90 Anzac Ave
Dunedin North 9016
Applicants will be advised of their application result by 30 November 2025.
The successful applicant will be expected to start the project at the beginning of 2026 (unless otherwise agreed).
Applicants need to provide:
- A working title for the project.
- The investigator’s name, full contact details, including email address, and usual occupation, if any.
- A 200-word abstract of the proposed work.
- A more detailed account of the project, including likely completion date within 2026 (unless otherwise agreed), the research plan and methods to be employed, and how the Hocken Collections will be used. This account should not exceed 1250 words.
- A detailed budget, including information on possible additional funding from other sources.
- Letters of support from two individuals from whom the committee can seek further information about the applicant and proposed investigation.
- How the applicant intends to make the outcomes known and to whom: for example, in a book, exhibition, art installation, lecture, film production, podcast, website or digital development, musical or theatrical performance.
Conditions of the Friends of the Hocken Collections Award
- The Award will be made to the approved applicant(s) to carry out a piece of research which requires significant use of the Hocken Collections. This does not preclude the use of other collections.
- The grant may be split among more than one applicant, and payment may be made in lump sum or instalments, according to the decision of the Committee of the Friends of the Hocken Collections.
- Nominated referees may be contacted for all short-listed applicants, to confirm that the applicant has the necessary skills and background to complete and present the research satisfactorily.
- Applications must be received by 15 October 2025, and applicants will be notified of the Committee’s decision on or before 30 November 2025.
- Recipients will be required to submit a progress report by 31 July 2026 (unless otherwise agreed).
- Recipients will agree to publicity related to the Award.
- On completion of the work, the successful applicant(s) must submit a brief written report to the Committee of the Friends of the Hocken Collections suitable for publication in an issue of Flotsam & Jetsam (the Friends’ bulletin) and may be asked to address a meeting of the Friends on the award-winning topic.
- Any subsequent publication or presentation by the recipients for which the Award was received should carry an appropriate acknowledgement.