• What is the Girouard Fund?

The Girouard Fund was established by the Society of Architectural Historians in 2023 to support research and publications in architectural history. The Fund was created in memory of the prolific architectural historian, author, and campaigner Mark Girouard (1931-2022).

• What will the Girouard Fund support?

The new Fund will support research for a diverse range of publications including books, journal articles, websites, bibliographies and digital formats as well as other outputs which take architectural history to a broad audience.

• Who can apply?

The Girouard Fund will be for a wide range of those engaged in architectural historical research including early career researchers, academics, heritage professionals and freelancers. Students will be supported through the separate Arnold Hayward Stevenson Fund.

• When will the Girouard Fund be in operation?

We plan to spend 2024 and most of 2025 fundraising with the Fund opening for applications for Autumn 2025. A new system of support for students through the Stevenson Fund will be launched at the same time.

• Why is the Fund needed?

Funding for humanities research is under threat at all levels by government, by universities and in the publishing world. Consequently academics and authors are finding it increasingly difficult to finance both the research and the production fees required for publications of all types with both direct and indirect costs increasingly passed on to authors even for some open access publications.

• What is the fundraising target?

The fund has a target of £100,000, which will come from a range of donations and sources: our membership; crowdfunding; larger donations from individuals; and grants and trusts. Within the overall target we have a members’ target of £30,000.

• How will the money be held?

Any funds raised will be held and accounted for as restricted funds and will be itemised as such in the Annual Report. They are ring-fenced and cannot be used for general purposes.

• How can I donate?

Donations can be made via our website here or by using the crowdfunding page on the site Just Giving.