NEH seeking Applications for Cultural Heritage Collection Program

Deadline: 14-Jan-21

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Preservation and Access is accepting applications for the Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections program.

The purpose of this program is to help cultural institutions meet the complex challenge of preserving large and diverse holdings of humanities materials for future generations by supporting sustainable conservation measures that mitigate deterioration, prolong the useful life of collections, and strengthen institutional resilience (i.e., the ability to anticipate and respond to disasters resulting from natural or human activity.).

Cultural institutions, including libraries, archives, museums, and historical organizations, face an enormous challenge: to preserve humanities collections that facilitate research, strengthen teaching, and provide opportunities for lifelong learning. To ensure the preservation of books and manuscripts, photographs, sound recordings and moving images, archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, art, and historical objects, cultural institutions must implement measures that slow deterioration and prevent catastrophic loss from emergencies resulting from natural or human activity. They can accomplish this work most effectively through preventive conservation. Preventive conservation encompasses managing relative humidity, temperature, light, and pollutants in collection spaces; providing protective storage enclosures and systems for collections; and safeguarding collections from theft, fire, floods, and other disasters.

Funding Categories

The SCHC program offers two levels of funding:

Planning
- The Planning category provides funding for institutions to develop and assess sustainable preventive conservation strategies. These awards are up to $50,000 for a two-year period of performance.
Implementation
- The Implementation category provides funding for institutions to implement preventive conservation projects. These awards are up to $350,000 for a period of performance of up to three years.

Funding Information

Approximately $1,800,000 is expected to be available to fund 15 recipients per deadline. Planning applicants may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $50,000. Implementation applicants may apply for a ceiling of up to $350,000.

Eligible Applicant

U.S. non-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, public and 501(c)(3) accredited institutions of higher education, state and local governmental agencies, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.
Individuals, foreign and for-profit entities are not eligible to apply.

For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=329800