Lewis-Houghton Civics and Democracy Initiative: New Awards for 2027-2029
The Lewis-Houghton Civics and Democracy Initiative offers grants for organizations to create arts-based educational projects using Library of Congress digital resources to teach history, civics, and democracy to middle and high school students.
Funder: Library of Congress
Due Dates: September 28, 2026: Application Submission Deadline
Funding Amounts: Up to $100,000 per award (year 1); up to $300,000 total over 3 years; up to 6 awards expected.
Summary: Supports digitally-enabled, creative arts-driven projects using Library of Congress primary sources to teach history, civics, and/or democracy to middle and high school educators and learners.
Key Information: Prior LHI direct recipients are ineligible; applications must be submitted by email (not via grants.gov).
Description
This grant opportunity, administered by the Library of Congress under the Lewis-Houghton Civics and Democracy Initiative (LHI), seeks proposals for educational projects that use the Library’s digitized music or creative arts primary sources to advance instruction in history, civics, and/or democracy. Projects should be digitally-enabled and creatively driven, targeting middle and high school educators and learners. Funded organizations become part of the Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Educational Consortium, collaborating to build innovative, inquiry-driven resources and programming that foster civic skills and engagement.
Projects must:
- Integrate rights-free materials from the Library’s music or creative arts digital collections.
- Develop curriculum, teaching materials, educational programs, pedagogical approaches, or tools for history, civics, and democracy education.
- Address demonstrated educational needs and propose evidence-based solutions.
- Expand the body of creative strategies and materials for teaching with Library of Congress resources.
- Make all materials publicly accessible online for at least three years after project completion, with open licensing.
Examples of eligible activities include developing classroom resources, delivering educator professional development, convening like-minded organizations, or conducting practitioner-involved research on the impact of Library materials in civics/arts education.
