204 New Grants, “The Bigger Picture,” & Winter Exhibitions

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Production of a virtual museum exploring New Deal art and artists of Gallup, New Mexico; the renovation of the historic Freedom Tower in Miami, Florida; and the creation of a minor in medical and health humanities at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, are among the 204 humanities projects to receive grant awards from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in the first funding cycle of 2023, announced January 10.

New grants will support innovative projects that use digital tools to further humanities research, leverage federal funding to stimulate private investment in the infrastructure of historic sites and cultural institutions, and fund research on new methods of preventative conservation. For a complete list of grants by geographic location, click here.

This funding cycle also includes a $1.7 million cooperative agreement with the educational nonprofit iCivics for the continuation of the Educating for American Democracy initiative to support K–5 civics and history pilot programs at elementary schools. The partnership is funded through NEH’s special initiative, American Tapestry: Weaving Together Past, Present, and Future, which leverages the humanities to strengthen our democracy, advance equity for all, and address our changing climate. Read about the Educating for American Democracy initiative at Education Week. 

In the winter issue cover story, Angelica Aboulhosn examines the complex life and legacy of La Malinche, Hernán Cortés’s translator, through artwork featured in the NEH-supported traveling exhibition, “Traitor, Survivor, Icon: The Legacy of La Malinche.”

"What Are Toys For?" by Steve Moyer

From sticks and sand to Cabbage Patch Dolls and Atari, Steve Moyer reflects on the evolution of toys and the many possible meanings of play after his visit to the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York.

"Gabrielle Suchon, Philosopher Queen of the Amazons" by Julie Walsh

In the seventeenth century, French women had two paths: marriage or the convent. Gabrielle Suchon, after four decades of the latter, plotted a third—philosopher. Julie Walsh, a recipient of an NEH summer stipend in 2020 to continue her work on the subject, investigates Suchon’s ideas on a neutral life.

Join host and Harvard University historian Vincent Brown as he explores the stories behind iconic photos that have defined the American identity in the PBS Digital Studios web series The Bigger Picture. In each episode, Brown meets with curators, photographers, and other experts across the country to unpack the narrative behind each photo and gain context about the eras they captured in a single frame.

Blue Marble: In 1972, astronauts aboard Apollo 17 captured the Earth in full on film for the first time. In this episode, learn how this technical triumph was achieved and what hopes the image inspired in those on the ground.

Raising the Flag at Ground Zero: Photographer Thomas E. Franklin joins Brown in conversation to discuss the moment he took one of the most recognized photos from September 11 and the experience of having his work become “iconic.” 

American Gothic: Twelve years after the famed painting’s debut, Gordon Parks photographed his own American Gothic in Washington, D.C. in 1942. In this episode Brown discusses how the image came to be, why its name was changed, and its impact.

On January 18, NEH announced the appointment of Scott B. Weingart as the first Director of the Office of Data and Evaluation. The new office is part of the implementation of the NEH Equity Action Plan to expand access to the humanities and will play a key role in assessing whether, and to what extent, NEH’s grant programs advance equity and support for underserved communities.

Under Weingart’s direction, the Office of Data and Evaluation will collect and analyze data about NEH’s grant programs, develop metrics for measuring the impact of NEH-funded projects, and work with other organizations and federal agencies to collect and share data about investment in and engagement with the humanities in the United States.

This season, NEH-supported museum exhibitions are opening virtually and in-person across the country. Visit the NEH Projects webpage for more information.

"Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues 1945–1970"

Country Music Hall of Fame | Nashville, TN | Virtual | Now Open

With support from NEH, the Country Music Hall of Fame has revived its award-winning 2004-2005 exhibition “Night Train to Nashville” as an updated virtual experience, now available online. Explore the exhibition and learn the story of the rhythm and blues scene that helped earn Nashville its name as Music City.  

"Bringing the Holy Land Home: The Crusades, Chertsey Abbey, and the Reconstruction of a Medieval Masterpiece"

Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery | Worcester, MA | Now Open

Drawing from international collections, including the British Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, “Bringing the Holy Land Home” sheds new light on the impact of globally produced art objects from the Byzantine and Islamic Mediterranean on the visual culture of medieval England and western Europe. The exhibition features both the originals and digital reconstructions of iconic thirteenth-century mosaic floor tiles from England’s Chertsey Abbey depicting scenes from the Crusades.

"Maḏayin: Eight Decades of Aboriginal Australian Bark Painting from Yirrkala"

American University Museum | Washington, D.C. | Opens February 4

Maḏayin, meaning “sacred” or “beautiful,” is the first major exhibition of Aboriginal Australian bark painting in the United States and the largest display of Aboriginal Australian art in the Western Hemisphere in 30 years. Hailed as “enthralling” by the Wall Street Journal, Maḏayin is the first to include the Yolŋu people as participants in the development of an exhibition featuring their work.

"Black Orpheus: Jacob Lawrence and the Mbari Club"

New Orleans Museum of Art | New Orleans, LA | Opens February 10

Featuring more than 125 objects, “Black Orpheus” examines the connection between African-American artist Jacob Lawrence and his peers in West Africa. Centered on the pages of Black Orpheus, the magazine published by the Mbari Artists and Writers Club in Nigeria from 1957 to 67, the exhibition features Lawrence’s 1964–65 Nigeria series, works by artists featured in the magazine, and archival videos, photos, and letters.

February

Landmarks of American History and Culture (2/1/23)

Institutes for Higher Education Faculty (2/1/23)

Institutes for K-12 Educators (2/1/23)

Dangers and Opportunities of Technology: Perspectives from the Humanities (2/2/23)

Dynamic Language Infrastructure – Documenting Endangered Languages Senior Research Grants (2/15/23)

Institutes for Advanced Topics in the Digital Humanities (2/15/23)

March

Fellowships Open Book Program (3/15/23)