Opportunity Information: Apply for 20160113 TD
Apply for 20160113 TD
- The NEH in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Media Projects Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.164.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 12, 2015 and posted on Nov 12, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 13, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Media Projects Grants program from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) funds the development and production of film, television, and radio (including podcast) projects designed for general audiences. The core purpose is to support media that does more than relay information: projects are expected to spark active engagement with humanities ideas and encourage critical thinking through creative, compelling storytelling. NEH is looking for programs that are grounded in recognized humanities scholarship and that treat their topics with a thoughtful, balanced, and analytical approach rather than a purely celebratory or promotional one. Subjects can come from disciplines such as history, art history, film studies, literature, drama, religious studies, philosophy, or anthropology, but the key expectation is that the project interprets and explores meaning and significance, not just facts.
For film and television, supported projects can be either a single standalone program or a multi-episode series focused on important figures, events, or ideas. These projects must be intended for national distribution, whether through traditional broadcast or cable carriage, streaming platforms, or other online distribution channels. NEH indicates flexibility on format and length, welcoming everything from short-form pieces to broadcast-length programs, as long as the work has clear potential to reach and resonate with a broad audience nationwide.
For radio and audio, the grant can support one-off episodes, limited series, or humanities segments within an ongoing program, including podcasts. Applicants may propose entirely new humanities programming or add stronger humanities context and analysis to existing shows, such as expanding historical background or deepening interpretive framing. Unlike film and television, radio projects may be positioned for regional or national distribution, depending on the concept and intended audience reach.
A notable feature of this opportunity is NEH's encouragement of multi-format public engagement. Applicants can propose complementary components that extend the main media project and help audiences go deeper, such as discussion programs tied to the film or audio series, companion educational websites, or related exhibitions (for example, museum-based elements). These add-ons are meant to supplement the main production by broadening access, enriching interpretation, and supporting public learning in ways that fit different audiences and settings.
The program offers two main funding pathways. Development grants support the early-stage work needed to shape a strong humanities media project, including collaboration between media professionals and scholars to refine content, perspective, and interpretive approach. Development work is expected to culminate in a script or a detailed treatment, and it may also produce an outreach and public engagement plan. Production grants support the actual creation and distribution of film, television, or radio programs that show strong promise of engaging a wide public audience with humanities ideas.
Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; special district governments; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits). The opportunity is a discretionary grant in the humanities funding category (CFDA 45.164). The listed maximum award amount is up to $1,000,000. The specific posting information for the opportunity referenced includes an original and current closing date of January 13, 2016, with a posted date of November 12, 2015 (Funding Opportunity Number 20160113 TD).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NEH Media Projects Grants program?
The NEH Media Projects Grants program funds the development and production of film, television, and radio (including podcast) projects for general audiences. The program supports media projects that actively engage the public with humanities ideas through creative, compelling storytelling rather than simply delivering information.
What kinds of projects does this grant support?
This opportunity supports media projects in film, television, and radio/audio. For film and television, projects may be standalone programs or multi-episode series. For radio/audio, projects may be one-off episodes, limited series, or humanities segments within an ongoing program, including podcasts.
Who is the intended audience for supported projects?
Projects are expected to be designed for general audiences. NEH emphasizes broad public reach and storytelling that encourages critical thinking and active engagement with humanities ideas.
What does NEH mean by a "humanities" project in this context?
NEH is looking for projects grounded in recognized humanities scholarship that interpret meaning and significance rather than only presenting facts. Topics should be treated with a thoughtful, balanced, and analytical approach, not a purely celebratory or promotional one.
Which humanities disciplines can be included?
Subjects may come from disciplines such as history, art history, film studies, literature, drama, religious studies, philosophy, or anthropology, as long as the project interprets and explores meaning and significance and is grounded in recognized humanities scholarship.
Are promotional or purely celebratory programs a good fit for this grant?
No. NEH indicates that supported projects should use a thoughtful, balanced, and analytical approach. Projects that are purely celebratory or promotional are not aligned with the stated expectations.
What formats and lengths are allowed for film and television projects?
NEH indicates flexibility on format and length for film and television, welcoming work ranging from short-form pieces to broadcast-length programs, as long as the project has clear potential to reach and resonate with a broad audience nationwide.
What distribution expectations apply to film and television projects?
Film and television projects must be intended for national distribution. NEH notes national distribution can occur through traditional broadcast, cable carriage, streaming platforms, or other online distribution channels.
What formats are allowed for radio and audio projects (including podcasts)?
Radio/audio proposals may include one-off episodes, limited series, or humanities segments within an ongoing program. Podcasts are explicitly included.
Do radio/audio projects have to be nationally distributed?
Not necessarily. Unlike film and television projects, radio/audio projects may be positioned for regional or national distribution, depending on the concept and intended audience reach.
Can this grant support humanities segments added to an existing show?
Yes. Applicants may propose adding stronger humanities context and analysis to existing shows, such as expanding historical background or deepening interpretive framing.
Can applicants propose additional public engagement components alongside the main media project?
Yes. NEH encourages multi-format public engagement. Applicants can propose complementary components that extend the main media project and help audiences go deeper.
What are examples of complementary public engagement components?
Examples mentioned include discussion programs tied to the film or audio series, companion educational websites, or related exhibitions (including museum-based elements). These components are intended to supplement the main production by broadening access, enriching interpretation, and supporting public learning.
What are the two main funding pathways in this program?
The program offers Development grants and Production grants. Development supports early-stage work to shape a strong humanities media project. Production supports the actual creation and distribution of film, television, or radio programs.
What is a Development grant intended to fund?
Development grants support early-stage work needed to shape the project, including collaboration between media professionals and scholars to refine content, perspective, and interpretive approach.
What are the expected outcomes of Development work?
Development work is expected to culminate in a script or a detailed treatment. It may also produce an outreach and public engagement plan.
What is a Production grant intended to fund?
Production grants support the creation and distribution of film, television, or radio programs that show strong promise of engaging a wide public audience with humanities ideas.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; special district governments; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations, including both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits.
Is this a discretionary grant program?
Yes. The opportunity is described as a discretionary grant in the humanities funding category.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA listing provided is 45.164.
What is the maximum award amount?
The listed maximum award amount is up to $1,000,000.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number shown in the posting information?
The posting references Funding Opportunity Number 20160113 TD.
When was this opportunity posted, and what is the closing date shown?
The posting date listed is November 12, 2015. The original and current closing date shown is January 13, 2016.
Can projects be a single program or do they have to be a series?
Film and television projects can be either a single standalone program or a multi-episode series. Radio/audio projects can be one-off episodes, limited series, or segments within an ongoing program.
What is the main quality NEH is looking for in supported media?
NEH is looking for projects that are grounded in recognized humanities scholarship, use creative and compelling storytelling, and encourage critical thinking and active engagement with humanities ideas through balanced, analytical treatment of the topic.
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| Funding Opportunity |
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| Access to Historical Records Apply for ACCESS 201606 Funding Number: ACCESS 201606 Agency: NARA Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Museums, Libraries, and Cultural Organizations Grants Apply for 20160113 GE Funding Number: 20160113 GE Agency: NEH Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| State Board Programming Grants Apply for STATE 201606 Funding Number: STATE 201606 Agency: NARA Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $80,000 |
| Publishing Historical Records in Documentary Editions Apply for EDITIONS 201606 Funding Number: EDITIONS 201606 Agency: NARA Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Public Scholar Program Apply for 20160202 FZ Funding Number: 20160202 FZ Agency: NEH Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,400 |
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| Awards for Faculty Apply for 20160414 HB Funding Number: 20160414 HB Agency: NEH Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,400 |
| Book Translation Apply for DOC SCA BISHKEK PAS 01 Funding Number: DOC SCA BISHKEK PAS 01 Agency: DOS-SA Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $20,000 |
| Humanities Access Grants Apply for 20160504 ZH Funding Number: 20160504 ZH Agency: NEH Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Fellowships Apply for 20160428 FA Funding Number: 20160428 FA Agency: NEH Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,400 |
| Fellowships for Advanced Social Science Research on Japan Apply for 20160428 FO Funding Number: 20160428 FO Agency: NEH Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,400 |
| State Humanities Councils General Operating Support Grants Apply for 20160601 SO Funding Number: 20160601 SO Agency: NEH Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| Preservation Assistance Grants Apply for 20160503 PG Funding Number: 20160503 PG Agency: NEH Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $6,000 |
| Preservation and Access Education and Training Grants Apply for 20160503 PE Funding Number: 20160503 PE Agency: NEH Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $440,000 |
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