FRIENDS OF THE MAYA, INC.
PO BOX 1770, BLOWING ROCK, NC, USA 28605
Dear Applicant,
The annual Maya Meetings at Texas, held in late February at the University of Texas in Austin, are designed to bring scholars and interested individuals together once a year to study and explore various themes in Maya art and writing. Since their inception in 1977, the Meetings have featured lectures, forums, research workshops, and teaching practicums. A core component of the Meetings centers around an open and experimental atmosphere that promotes collaboration between representatives from all over the globe, including the significant involvement of indigenous Maya people.
Attached is an application for financial assistance to attend the 2008 Maya Meetings,
February 28 to March 2. The scholarships are funded and offered by a new organization known as "Friends of the Maya, Inc.." The title of this organization is appropriate. The "Friends of the Maya" are scholars and individuals who have attended the Maya Meetings at Texas for many years and who want to ensure continued active participation from the indigenous Maya community.
Please understand that this group has limited resources and will probably never be able to bring as many people to the Meetings as we would like. The goals are to bring individuals to the Meetings who: 1) are indigenous Maya, 2) are respected in their communities, and 3) will take back the knowledge and information gained at the Meetings to their communities and share that information as broadly as possible.
These scholarships are not limited to scholars or academic people. We are also seeking those who have a genuine interest in this material, who will be able to share it freely with as many people as possible. Though the Meetings are conducted in English and comprehension of English will be important, we recognize that it is often easier to read English than to write English. Therefore, the application may be completed in Spanish, if you prefer. We are also attempting to make arrangements to provide simultaneous translation of the lectures into Spanish.
Thank you for your application! We hope to see you in Texas!
Sincerely,
Friends of the Maya |
