Last week, the National Endowment for the Humanities announced another round of grant awards, $29 million to 184 projects. They range widely in size — from $1,000 to $1 million; subject — from ancient civilizations to the whaling industry; and kind — from teacher
seminars to digital projects.
They’re worth having a look at, as I’ve said here before, because many projects are as much about the arts as they are about the humanities. Some (not the teacher education efforts) seem very promising for a wide audience. To name just two:
- Film Odyssey Inc., a Washington, D.C.-based production company, won $625,000 to make a one-hour documentary called “Butterfly: The Art and Life of James McNeill Whistler.” The company, under director Karen Thomas, also made “Isaac Stern: Life’s Virtuoso” narrated by Meryl Streep and released in 2000, according to IMDB.
- The New York Botanical Garden,* in the Bronx, received $400,000 to create indoor and outdoor exhibits, plus public programs, exploring how plants
inspired the poetry of Emily Dickinson.
It’s good that NEH is willing to make big grants. I haven’t done an serious comparison, but the National Endowment for the Arts — except for the big grants awarded to state arts councils — seems to spread its awards more thinly, with — I think — less impact. Maybe Rocco Landesman will change that; I hope Jim Leach doesn’t change the NEH m.o.
You can see all the NEH grants from this round of awards in these three PDFs, in which grants are listed alphabetically by state. For Alabama to Maine, click here; for Maryland to New York, here; and for North Carolina to Wyoming, plus U.S. territories, click here.
Photo Credits: Whistler self-portrait, c. 1872, Detroit Institute of Arts (top); Dickinson’s Poems, 1890 edition.
*A client supports the NYBG