Public Humanities Projects | 20190109 GG

Opportunity Information: Apply for 20190109 GG

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Public Humanities Projects grant supports efforts that bring humanities ideas to general audiences through in-person experiences. The central expectation is that projects are grounded in humanities scholarship and use it to explore meaningful themes in fields like history, literature, ethics, and art history. NEH places strong value on public-facing work that is not just informational, but interpretive, helping audiences understand context, debate ideas, and engage with evidence. The program also encourages models where community members collaborate with humanities scholars or contribute to shaping the project, so the public is not only attending but also helping inform the content and approach.

Applicants must choose one of three primary project formats and follow the rules for that category. The first option, Humanities Discussions, funds discussion-based public programming delivered face-to-face over a period ranging from three months up to two years. A key requirement is a series of at least fifteen in-person programs built around significant humanities resources such as artifacts, artworks, books, music, or film, selected with the goal of engaging a diverse audience. These programs must be anchored by humanities experts who serve as speakers, panelists, or discussion leaders and who provide analysis and interpretive framing rather than simple presentation. Examples include community forums, symposium panels, lecture series, reading and discussion groups, interpretive talks tied to museum collections or performances, and lifelong learning programs. NEH also expects projects in this category to have broader reach: if the series takes place within one state or territory, it should be statewide rather than limited to one local area, and projects may also be regional or national in scope. In addition, discussion projects must create some kind of resource that extends the program beyond the events themselves, helping the content live on after the series ends.

The second option, Exhibitions, supports the development of public exhibitions that translate humanities research into experiences people can visit. Funding can support permanent exhibitions that will remain on view for at least three years, temporary exhibitions at a single site that are open to the public for at least two months, and traveling exhibitions that will be presented at a minimum of two US venues including the originating site. This category is aimed at well-developed interpretive storytelling and audience learning in exhibition form, whether in museums, cultural institutions, or other public settings where humanities content can be encountered directly.

The third option, Historic Places, supports long-term interpretive programming connected to historic sites, houses, neighborhoods, and larger regions. The intent is sustained public interpretation that will be offered for at least three years, potentially through living history, guided tours, exhibitions, and other public programs. NEH encourages approaches that use multiple formats to explore humanities questions at these places, tying physical sites to broader themes, scholarship, and public dialogue rather than limiting interpretation to surface-level description.

Across all three categories, NEH encourages projects that combine formats when it strengthens the public experience, such as pairing an exhibition with a discussion series, a website, or a mobile app. Even when additional components are included, the application must clearly identify one primary format and follow the specific instructions and expectations tied to that format. In practical terms, this program is designed for institutions and organizations that can deliver sustained, scholarly informed, public-facing humanities programming with clear interpretive goals and a plan for meaningful audience engagement.

Administratively, this is a discretionary federal grant (CFDA 45.164) offered by NEH under Funding Opportunity Number 20190109. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled colleges and universities; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions). The listed maximum award amount is up to $1,000,000. The opportunity information provided shows an original closing date of January 9, 2019, indicating the details come from a specific past cycle, though the program description reflects the core structure and goals of the Public Humanities Projects funding line.

• The National Endowment for the Humanities in the humanities sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Public Humanities Projects" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.164.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-11-19.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-01-09. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for 20190109 GG

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