Public Humanities Projects
Public Humanities Projects supports organizations in presenting exhibitions, historic place interpretation, and public discussions that bring humanities scholarship to broad audiences and encourage dialogue.
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Funder: National Endowment for the Humanities
Due Dates: November 10, 2026 (Live Q&A) | December 16, 2026 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Planning: up to $75,000 for up to 24 months; Implementation: up to $500,000 for 12–48 months; Chairman’s Special Awards: up to $2,000,000
Summary: Supports exhibitions, historic place interpretation, and public discussions that bring humanities scholarship to general audiences in the United States.
Key Information: Projects must identify participating humanities scholars and include their letters of commitment.
Description
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Lifelong Learning supports projects that bring humanities ideas and insights to broad public audiences in non-classroom settings. Public Humanities Projects funds planning and implementation of exhibitions and historic place interpretation, plus implementation of public lectures and discussion forums. Projects must use sound scholarship and analytical interpretation to deepen understanding and encourage dialogue. Websites, mobile apps, and other digital components may complement, but cannot be the primary project format.
NEH welcomes work on Western civilization and America’s place in it; great works of literature, history, philosophy, and theology and their contemporary relevance; the American Revolution’s 250th anniversary; civic education; civil discourse; cultural literacy; and close reading. These topics are optional for regular exhibition and historic place awards, but required for public lectures, discussion forums, and Chairman’s Special Awards.
