ABSTRACT
The moment arrives for an intermezzo, a term from Italian opera to describe the middle, lighter movement of a large composition. The purpose of this intermezzo is to open briefly a few doors into the world of funding agencies where, through their own words, the author can detect the strains of humanity. Instead, they may take a rather perfunctory attitude to ‘filling in’ an application form, rather than see it as a masterpiece of relationship management: Read the rules and the guidance notes attached to the application form which are designed to help people through the ‘filling in’ process. The following excerpts from various funding bodies should be read with the purpose of hearing the nuances in the language, and sensing the determination — and sometimes frustration — of the people who may one day be people partners. The British Academy also takes a rather pointed approach, both to eligibility and punctuality..
