Museums, Libraries, and Cultural Organizations

NEH¿s Division of Public Programs supports activities that engage millions of Americans in understanding significant humanities works and ideas. At the center of every NEH-funded public humanities project is a core set of humanities ideas developed by scholars, matched to imaginative formats that bring those ideas to life for people of all ages and all walks of life. Projects must be analytical and deeply grounded in humanities scholarship in a discipline such as history, religion, anthropology, jurisprudence, or art history. NEH is a national funding agency, so the projects we support must demonstrate the potential to attract a broad, general audience. We welcome humanities projects tailored to particular groups, such as families, youth (including K-12 students), teachers, seniors, at-risk communities, and veterans, but they should also strive to cultivate a more inclusive audience.
Museums, Libraries, and Cultural Organizations grants provide support for museums, libraries, historic places, and other organizations that produce public programs in the humanities.
Planning grants support the following formats:
¿ exhibitions at museums, libraries, and other venues;
¿ interpretations of historic places, sites, or regions; and
¿ book/film discussion programs; living history presentations; and other face-to-face programs at libraries, community centers, and other public venues.

Implementation grants support the following formats:
¿ exhibitions at museums, libraries, and other venues;
¿ interpretations of historic places, sites, or regions;
¿ book/film discussion programs; living history presentations; other face-to-face programs at libraries, community centers, and other public venues; and
¿ interpretive websites, mobile applications, games, and other digital formats.
Types of Museums, Libraries, and Cultural Organizations awards
Planning grants support the early stages of project development, including consultation with scholars, refinement of humanities themes, preliminary design, testing, and audience evaluation.
Implementation grants support final scholarly research and consultation, design development, production, and installation of a project for presentation to the public.