(Camden, NJ) – The New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) has announced $231,768 in grant funding to 19 organizations across the state.
The awards are split between 9 Incubation Grants and 10 Action Grants and represent 10 counties in New Jersey. Incubation Grants help organizations plan, research, develop, and prototype public humanities projects and events. Action Grants help organizations implement a wide array of humanities-based projects, including public programs, exhibitions, installations, tours and discussion groups.
“Our most recent grantees are bringing under-told stories from throughout the state and world to new audiences,” said Carin Berkowitz, Ph.D., executive director of NJCH. “They demonstrate that understanding our shared history is key to understanding our current world.”
The funded projects range from developing a master plan for Shady Rest, the United States’ first Black-owned country club, to creating a walking tour of a historic Jersey City neighborhood, to designing a mobile exhibit highlighting the scientific innovations of Islamic civilizations. Many of the projects funded highlight the diversity of the Garden State in important and imaginative ways.
In addition, three grantees were previously participants in NJCH’s Community History Program. That program is for nonprofits, governments, and unincorporated community groups seeking to learn about and develop public history projects to preserve and share stories from their own communities. Participating organizations receive expert instruction on public history practices, a collaborative environment in which to develop projects, and funding from NJCH to launch projects in their communities.
For full information on past and future grant opportunities, visit https://njhumanities.org/grants/grants-overview/.
Incubation grants were awarded to:
County of Somerset, Somerville ($5,000), to support the development of a plan for the preservation of a collection of pre-1804 records related to slave ownership.
Historic Paulus Hook Association, Jersey City ($15,000), to support the development of interactive and immersive experiences such as a story map and self-guided walking tours to bring Paulus Hook history into the community’s awareness and memory.
Museum of Early Trades & Crafts, Madison ($14,050), to support planning for revitalized galleries about early tradespeople to better incorporate the stories of women, immigrants, African Americans, and Native people.
Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn ($15,000), to support planning for a multidisciplinary cultural history project in commemoration of PMP’s 85th anniversary season.
Preserve Shady Rest Committee, Scotch Plains ($15,000), to support the development of an inclusive master plan for the historic interpretation and public experience of Shady Rest Golf & Country Club (1921), a National Historic Landmark.
Roebling Main Gate Museum, Roebling ($15,000), to support planning and prototyping for the public sharing of 44 recently obtained historic diaries of Roebling women.
Tabernacle Historical Society, Tabernacle ($6,860), to support the development of a project to document the history of African Americans who resided in Tabernacle, NJ, including locating missing records and conducting genealogy studies.
Turkish Cultural Center NJ, Wayne ($15,000), to support an exhibition taking visitors on an enlightening journey through the profound contributions of Islamic civilizations.
Vietnamese Boat People, Montclair ($15,000), to support the development of the “Vietnamese Boat People Journeys: 50 Years after the Fall” 2025 exhibition.
Action grants were awarded to:
Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life at Rutgers University, New Brunswick ($10,173), to support a series of public community events, a film discussion and virtual book clubs, in conjunction with a symposium, “Black Americans, Jewish Americans: Historical Intersections, Collisions, and Passings.”
Haddonfield Public Library, Haddonfield ($3,000), to support the curation of 3-4 traveling trunks that feature hands-on exploration of historical topics relating to the Borough’s history.
Ironbound Community Corporation, Newark ($15,000), to support the creation and operation of a community archives for Ironbound Community Corporation, a community-based organization in Newark, NJ.
Isles, Inc., Trenton ($15,000), to support the development of a virtual tour of the Trenton Historic Development Collaborative (THDC) neighborhood.
Mighty Writers, Camden ($15,000), to support a teen fellowship program that, using social and emotional learning lenses, teaches resiliency, emotion regulation, and empathy through literacy and digital media skills.
Montclair History Center, Montclair ($6,450), to support the virtual History at Home program series, bringing rich content from local scholars and historians to the public through live zoom presentations.
Morris County Historical Society, Morristown ($15,000), to support a county-wide survey of African American Historic Sites that will document, interpret, and promote a more comprehensive and accurate history of Morris County.
People & Stories / Gente y Cuentos, Lawrence Township ($15,000), to support the strategic recruitment and training of facilitators to enhance the diversity of the organization’s facilitator pool.
South Mountain TheaterWorks, Inc., Maplewood ($15,000), to support an episode of “Drive By History” (NJ PBS) spotlighting Harriet Tubman’s deep connection to North and South Jersey.
Torch Leadership Academy, Galloway ($6,235), to support Torch Leadership Academy’s summer leadership program for high school students, hosted at Stockton University.
