Projects should encourage dialogue, discussion, and civic engagement, and foster learning among people of all ages. Applicants should consider more than one format for presenting humanities ideas to the public. NEH offers two categories for media projects: 1) Development grants support film, television, and radio projects for general audiences that encourage active engagement with humanities ideas in creative ways. All projects must be grounded in humanities scholarship in disciplines such as history, art history, film studies, literature, drama, religious studies, philosophy, and anthropology. Projects must demonstrate an approach that is thoughtful, balanced, and analytical, going beyond the mere presentation of factual information to explore its larger significance and stimulate critical thinking. These awards range from $40,000-$75,000, depending on the complexity of the project, and are usually for a period of 6-12 months. 2) Production grants support film, television, and radio projects for general audiences that encourage active engagement with humanities ideas in creative and appealing ways. These projects should have completed research on the subject, including archival work and preliminary interviews; involve scholars in creating and interpreting the project’s content; completed the project’s script(s) for film or television projects, or detailed treatments for radio projects; and designed the plans for distribution, outreach, and partnerships. Chairman’s Special Awards (up to $1 million) are offered for projects of exceptional significance, audience reach, and complexity. This kind of project should examine important humanities ideas in new ways and promise to reach extremely large audiences. These awards are offered only at the production stage--not at the development stage.
National Science Foundation (NSF), Antarctic Artists and Writers Program
Proposals must be submitted through the KU Center for Research (KUCR). The grant furnishes U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) operational support, and round-trip economy air tickets between the United States and the Southern Hemisphere, to artists and writers whose work requires them to be in the Antarctic to complete their proposed project. It does not provide funds for salary, materials, completion of the envisioned works, or any other purpose–support is in-kind only. The purpose is to increase understanding and appreciation of the Antarctic and of human activities on the southernmost continent. Through the program, artists and writers may visit Antarctica through the USAP in order to make first-hand observations that will inform their efforts to interpret and represent the scientific activities being conducted in the Antarctic and the nature of this unique ecosystem. Award winners are required to broadly disseminate the works they produce as a public benefit; therefore the NSF expects well-developed plans for bringing the artistic or literary works before the widest possible cross-section of the public.
The Puffin Foundation, Ltd. makes grants that encourage emerging artists in the fields of art, music, theater, photography, and public interest whose works due to their genre and/or social philosophy might have difficulty being aired. Grant awards from the Puffin Foundation, Ltd. can only be awarded to permanent residents and citizens of the United States. U.S. citizens whose projects encompass work in other countries are eligible to apply. Grants average $1,250; the maximum grant amount is $2,500.
Deadline: December 6 (last known; deadline to request an application packet); December 30 (last known; for full application)
Regional and State Funding
City of Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission
The Community Arts Grants program offers grants for projects that promote awareness of and appreciate for the arts in Lawrence, KS, and to encourage collaboration within the Lawrence arts community. Awards range from $500-$2,000. Awards will equal no more than 50% of the total project or activity cost. Cost-share may be cash and/or in-kind. Preference is given to new projects and innovative components of established programs.
The Mid-America Arts Alliance was created to support and stimulate cultural activity in communities throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. M-AAA creates and manages regional, multi-regional, national, and international programs including traveling exhibitions, performing arts touring, and professional and community development.
Artistic Innovations
Artistic Innovations is a grant program that supports the creation of new work. It also is designed to encourage experimentation and collaboration, and engage audiences throughout M-AAA’s region. M-AAA distributes grants of up to $15,000 to underwrite the direct expenses related to the art-making
process and the public premier of these works. Artistic Innovations grants are available to artists and nonprofit arts organizations working in all disciplines.