Media Projects: Development and Production Grants

 
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    CFDA#

    45.164
     

    Funder Type

    Federal Government

    IT Classification

    B - Readily funds technology as part of an award

    Authority

    National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)

    Summary

    The Media Projects program supports the development, production, and distribution of radio programs, podcasts, and documentary films that engage general audiences with humanities ideas in creative and appealing ways. Projects must be grounded in humanities scholarship and incorporate an approach that is thoughtful, balanced, and analytical; proposals must demonstrate the potential to attract a broad general audience.


    The Division of Public Programs encourages media projects that promote a deeper understanding of American history and culture as well as those that examine international themes and subjects in the humanities.


    Media Projects awards are made at two levels: Development and Production.

    1. Development Level: Proposals under this level should enable media producers to collaborate with scholars to develop humanities content along with other program elements. Awards should result in a script (for documentary films and television programs) or detailed treatment(s) (for radio programs and podcasts). Awards may also be used to plan for outreach and public engagement in collaboration with a partner organization or organizations. Development awards may support activities such as:
      1. meetings with scholars
      2. preliminary interviews preparation of program treatments or scripts
      3. production of a work-in-progress or trailer
      4. creation of partnerships for outreach activities and public engagement
      5. archival and other scholarly research to further development of script and humanities themes
    2. Production Level: Proposals under this level should result in the production and distribution of radio, podcast, television, and long-form documentary film projects. Production awards may support activities such as:
      1. archival research and rights clearances
      2. meetings with scholars
      3. additional script development
      4. production (including filming, recording, and editing) and distribution
      5. development of related resources that explore the humanities content and themes central to the project (e.g., websites and curriculum materials)
      6. outreach and public engagement

    Within the Production level, NEH occasionally offers one Chairman's Special Award. This award is intended for projects of exceptional significance, audience reach, and complexity. A Chair's Special Award should examine important humanities ideas in new ways and demonstrate the potential to reach especially large audiences. These goals can often be accomplished by combining a variety of program formats, forming creative collaborations among diverse institutions, and significantly expanding the scope and reach of the project.

     

    History of Funding

    Previously funded Development awards can be viewed at: https://securegrants.neh.gov/publicquery/main.aspx?q=1&a=0&n=0&o=0&k=0&f=0&s=0&p=1&pv=258&d=0&y=1&yf=2018&yt=2021&prd=0&cov=0&prz=0&wp=0&pg=0&ob=year&or=DESC

    Previously funded Production awards can be viewed at: https://securegrants.neh.gov/publicquery/main.aspx?q=1&a=0&n=0&o=0&k=0&f=0&s=0&p=1&pv=259&d=0&y=1&yf=2018&yt=2021&prd=0&cov=0&prz=0&wp=0&pg=0&ob=year&or=DESC

    Additional Information

    All Media Projects proposals must:

    • build on sound humanities scholarship
    • deepen public understanding of significant humanities questions
    • approach a subject analytically, presenting a variety of perspectives
    • involve humanities scholars in all phases of development and production
    • involve appropriate media professionals
    • employ appealing and accessible program formats that will actively engage the general public in learning

    NEH is especially interested in supporting projects that advance humanities-related work in the area of NEH's "American Tapestry: Weaving Together Past, Present, and Future" and "United We Stand: Connecting Through Culture"


    Funding may not be used for the following activities:

    • fictional films and audio projects, including historical dramas, dramatic adaptations of literary works, and other projects with characters or scenes for which there is not historical documentation or a clear foundation in other relevant humanities scholarship
    • outreach and engagement events and other distribution activities for productions completed before the proposed start date of the period of performance
    • projects that are primarily or exclusively recordings of lectures or stage productions
    • projects that will satisfy requirements for educational degrees or formal professional training
    • projects intended primarily for students in a formal learning environment (though projects may include components that can be used in classrooms)
    • general operations, renovation, restoration, rehabilitation, or construction of station or production facilities
    • preservation or cataloging of materials and collections
    • obscene, libelous, indecent, or defamatory content (including hate speech, personal attacks, or material constituting harassment)
    • fiscal agent and fiscal sponsor fees
    • costs for activities performed by federal entities or personnel
    • promotion of a particular political, religious, or ideological point of view
    • advocacy of a particular program of social or political action
    • support of specific public policies or legislation
    • lobbying
    • projects that fall outside of the humanities; the creation or performance of art; creative writing, autobiographies, memoirs, and creative nonfiction; policy studies; and social science research that does not address humanistic questions and/or utilize humanistic methods

    Contacts

    Division of Public Programs Staff

    Division of Public Programs Staff
    400 Seventh Street, SW
    Washington, DC 20506
    (202) 606-8269
     

  • Eligibility Details

    Eligible applicants include:

    • nonprofit organizations recognized as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
    • accredited institutions of higher education (public or nonprofit)
    • state and local governments and their agencies
    • federally recognized Native American tribal governments.

    Eligible organizations are encouraged to partner with independent producers and other skilled professionals to carry out programmatic activities. Eligible applicants may submit multiple applications for separate and distinct projects under this notice. Note: Individuals, foreign and for-profit entities are not eligible to apply

    Deadline Details

    Applications are to be submitted by 11:59 EST on August 9, 2023 and January 10, 2024 by 11:59 EST. Similar deadlines are anticipated annually.,

    Award Details

    Approximately $3,500,000 is available in total funding for up to 12-15 awards per deadline.

    • The maximum award for Development grants is $75,000 with a project period of 6-12 months.
    • The maximum award for Production grants in $700,000 with a project period of 1-3 years.
    • In rare circumstances, up to $1,000,000 will be available for Chairman's Special Awards.

    No match is required.

    Projects submitted to the August 2023 deadline must start between May 1, 2024 and November 1, 2024.

    Projects submitted to the January 2024 deadline must start between October 1, 2024 and April 1, 2025.

    Related Webcasts Use the links below to view the recorded playback of these webcasts


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