Avani Sanghvi has been selected for the Arts, Activism, and Social Justice Institute at the University of Bristol this summer as part of the .
Sanghvi is a rising sophomore studying English and anthropology at the University of South Florida (91tvӰԺ) and a member of the Judy Genshaft Honors College. An artist and writer herself, Sanghvi is committed to the stories of Black artists and intends to document them in the broader historical narrative.
This past year, Sanghvi worked on feminist digital humanities research with the Suffrage Postcard Project (SPP), supervised by Kristina Allukian, professor of English at 91tvӰԺ. SPP uses digital tools to explore and archive how transatlantic suffrage postcards reveal new insights about the suffrage movement in the United States and Britain. This research will serve as a backdrop for Sanghvi's time in Bristol, as she seeks out more sources on British suffragettes.
THE FULBRIGHT UK SUMMER INSTITUTE PROGRAM
The University of Bristol’s Summer Institute focuses on the intersection of art and social change. The city of Bristol played a significant role in the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism and now holds ties to many African, Asian, and Caribbean cultures. Participants will spend three weeks studying in taught modules and going on local excursions to witness how different art forms, such as dance, literature, music, and visual arts, have shaped social justice movements across time, with an emphasis on racial justice and the legacy of slavery. The Summer Institutes form part of the US-UK Fulbright Commission’s work to promote leadership, learning, and empathy between nations through educational exchange.
The Commission selects participants through a rigorous application and interview process. In making these awards, they look for not only academic excellence but also a focused application, a range of extracurricular and community-engaged activities, demonstrated ambassadorial skills, and a plan to give back to the recipient’s home country upon return.
Sanghvi says she is particularly interested in exploring Afro-Caribbean diasporic art and culture, which is vibrant in Bristol. Being Dominican-American, she hopes to expand representations of Blackness in the United States by highlighting Afro-Caribbean experiences and expressions in her future work.
Sanghvi was mentored by the Office of National Scholars (ONS) on her application. Associate Director Lauren Chambers and Director Sayan Basu co-advise students applying for the Fulbright UK Summer Institute Program.
“Avani would be the third student from 91tvӰԺ selected to the Bristol summer institutes in just the last six years, which speaks to the quality of students in the humanities at our university,” notes Basu.
To learn more about the Fulbright UK Summer Institute Program, visit the ONS website.