The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is now accepting applications for its Public Humanities Projects program, which supports projects designed to bring humanities scholarship to the public. This grant offers organizations an opportunity to engage audiences with topics like history, literature, and ethics through exhibitions, programs at historic sites, and public discussions. Whether you are developing a museum exhibit or organizing a public lecture series, this funding can help make your project a reality.
The Public Humanities Projects program funds three types of projects:
- Exhibitions: Projects may include permanent exhibitions, single-site temporary exhibitions, or traveling exhibitions available at two or more U.S. venues. All NEH-supported exhibitions must provide at least 20 hours of free admission to the public each month during the period of performance.
- Historic Places: These projects develop long-term interpretive programs at historic sites, neighborhoods, or regions. Programs may include guided tours, living history presentations, or other educational public programs that highlight the historical significance of the location.
- Humanities Discussions: Projects include developing public programs, such as lecture series, discussions, or learning programs, that expose diverse audiences to humanities resources like artifacts, art, or literature. Discussions should focus on topics meaningful to the community and connect local themes to broader contexts.
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, accredited institutions of higher education, state or local governments, and federally recognized Native American Tribal governments. NEH particularly encourages applications from smaller organizations and projects aimed at underserved communities.
NEH offers three levels of funding:
- Planning Grants: These grants provide up to $60,000 for organizations still developing their projects. This funding can be used to refine the project’s content, conduct further research, or finalize design elements. Planning projects can last up to 24 months.
- Implementation Grants: These grants range from $50,000 to $400,000 for organizations ready to bring their project to life. The funding supports final research, production, and public presentation. Depending on their complexity, implementation projects can span 12 to 48 months.
- Chair’s Special Awards: In rare cases, projects that demonstrate exceptional significance and a broad reach may qualify for the Chair’s Special Award, which offers up to $1,000,000. Projects funded under this level will combine a variety of formats, form creative collaborations among diverse organizations, and significantly expand the original scope and reach of the project.
Full applications are due January 8, 2025. Draft submissions are encouraged and must be submitted by December 4, 2024.
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