(Camden, NJ) – The New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) recently awarded $199,637 in Incubation and Action Grant funding to sixteen organizations. 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.
Public humanities programming allows individuals to engage in lifelong learning and share in the exploration of history, values, cultures, and beliefs. NJCH supports and acts as a resource for cultural and service-oriented nonprofit partners as they bring the public humanities to the residents of New Jersey, harnessing the power of the humanities to strengthen communities.
Incubation Grants were awarded to:
- Clement A. Price Institute on Ethnicity, Culture, and the Modern Experience, Newark ($15,000) to continue to develop a plan for compiling and sharing information about Munsee Lunaape (Lenape) Ceremonial Stone Landscapes across New Jersey.
- Friends of Yogi, Little Falls ($15,000) to develop a new data visualization project to capture the unique story of baseball during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, connecting that story to broader social narratives.
- New Jersey Folk Festival, Inc., New Brunswick ($12,000) to begin work on a podcast, created by Rutgers University students and community scholars, to bring NJ folk cultures to a wider audience.
- Regional Plan Association, Inc., Princeton ($15,000) to plan a series of public engagement events about park and open space initiatives in Northern New Jersey.
- Southern Jersey Family Medical Center, Hammonton ($14,500) to continue work on the Beyond Statistics program, which researches local philosophies behind healthy eating by examining foodways, health, and nutrition.
- Truehart Productions, Lambertville ($14,844) to conduct research for a documentary to explore the prevalence of slavery during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries and its lasting effects throughout New Jersey during the 20th century.
- Woodbury Public Library, Woodbury ($5,030) to hire a public historian to perform thorough research on the early history of African Americans living in Woodbury.
Action Grants were awarded to:
- Camden County College, Blackwood ($10,440) to develop a lecture series that will analyze Hollywood films and their impact on politics and society, as well as library-based community discussion groups and a tuition-free course.
- Cherry Hill Public Library, Cherry Hill ($4,743) to host One Book, One Cherry Hill, a biennial community-wide book discussion and program series that explores topics relevant to the Cherry Hill community in order to bring people together and form connections.
- New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation, Inc., Holmdel ($11,400) to produce a series of interviews focused on a more inclusive narrative of the Vietnam War era, with a focus on the experiences of women and minorities and the impact of the war on the homefront through the experiences of military families during this period.
- Rutgers University-Newark Queer Newark Oral History Project, Newark ($15,500) to host panel discussions, an oral history bootcamp, and a community listening session to spread awareness of oral history methods and highlight the importance of preserving local LGBTQ+ history.
- Save Ancient Studies Inc., Teaneck ($7,150) to produce a series of archaeogaming video learning modules and pilot a humanities-based education program in New Jersey middle school classrooms.
- Talking Eyes Media, Montclair ($18,000) to support screenings of and facilitated discussions about a documentary film featuring Maria Lopez-Nuñez, as she fights for environmental justice and works with her Newark community to build a just and sustainable future.
- The Theater Project, Union ($4,030) to host a series of performances and facilitated discussions that explore concepts involving systemic racism from different perspectives, helping participants increase awareness and understanding within their own communities.
- Trent House Association, Trenton ($17,000) to engage teens and young adults in developing digital content about the lives of 17th and 18th century Lenape during colonization and 20th century African Americans who came to Trenton during the Great Migration.
- Whitesbog Preservation Trust, Browns Mills ($20,000) to collect oral histories from Whitesbog Historic Farm and Village workers, local neighbors, staff and farmers of the rural community of Browns Mills and Pemberton to enhance exhibit interpretation.
“Despite the challenges of the last fifteen months, the New Jersey cultural and historical sector continues to advance significant work on projects and programs aimed at exploring our histories, cultures, values, and beliefs,” said Director of Programs Gigi Naglak. “These proposed projects are ongoing evidence of their efforts. Each of these Incubation and Action Grant projects will enrich communities and explore questions and topics that affect and connect us all.”
Incubation and Action Grant funding can range from $2,000 to $20,000 per project. Organizations interested in learning more about NJCH’s grant program should visit the NJCH website.
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About the New Jersey Council for the Humanities
The New Jersey Council for the Humanities is a nonprofit state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. NJCH harnesses the power of the humanities to strengthen our pluralistic society. We envision a New Jersey that delights in diversity, appreciates that there are no easy answers, and finds joy and understanding in the humanities. We work statewide with cultural and community organizations to bring dynamic programming to the local level.
