The Diane Meyer Lowman Shakespeare Studies Award

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is delighted to announce the Diane Meyer Lowman Shakespeare Studies Award, a new annual prize supporting original research into the life, works, and legacy of William Shakespeare.

Funded by Shakespeare’s Birthplace America (SBA) through the generous support of U.S. writer and philanthropist Diane Meyer Lowman, the Award is administered by the Trust and rooted in our world-class collections and archives in Stratford-upon-Avon.

About the Award

One annual award of $1,700 (approx. £1,300) will support a student, academic, or independent scholar to undertake an original project that engages deeply with the Trust’s literary, historical, or biographical materials. Outputs may include academic writing, creative writing, biographical fiction, creative practice, or performance.

Key Dates:

• Applications open 16 January 2026
• Applications close 28 February 2026
• Recipient announced 23 April 2026 (Shakespeare’s Birthday; final year of the Women Who Made Shakespeare).

Who Can Apply

The Diane Meyer Lowman Shakespeare Studies Award will be awarded annually to an individual conducting research that relates to the life, works, or legacy of William Shakespeare in the context of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s collections and mission.

Awards of $1,700 will be made to a student, academic, or independent scholar, who pledges to produce an original, publishable or presentable piece of work (eg., written article, poem, or play; visual art; performance) on a previously approved literary, historical, or biographical topic about William Shakespeare, his family, or contemporaries, from The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust library or archives.

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s awards panel must approve the topic and approach. The award intends to inspire, stimulate, and promote archival scholarship.

1. A summary of your proposal (500 words max)
2. Your goals and vision for the final product, as well as the proposed methodology.

- How you would use the resources and collections of The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
- The names of any other principal libraries or archives where you intend to work.

3. Your scholarly context (are you a student, teacher, or independent scholar?) and something about your academic experience, for example, previous publications, or talks you have given.
4. The expected date of completion within 12 months of receiving the award.
5. A description of the intended deliverable, and plans for bringing it to fruition: article, book, play, photography, or art exhibit, etc.

The successful applicant will acknowledge the assistance of the scholarship in both published and unpublished versions of the work to which it pertains with the following wording:

‘This work was in part made possible through the award of The Diane Meyer Lowman Shakespeare Studies Award by The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (registered charity number 209302), www.shakespeare.org.uk’

The successful applicant will inform the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust of any publications or presentations arising from the work supported by the Award, and will send two copies of any work published as a result of the research supported by the award, one to be given to the donor and one to remain in the library of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

In addition to submitting a six-month progress report, the successful applicant must promptly notify the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust of any changes in their circumstances that might prevent the completion of the intended deliverable.

To express interest or receive updates: [email protected]