Opportunity Information: Apply for 20180110 TD
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Media Projects Grants program funds film, television, and radio projects (including podcasts) that bring humanities ideas to the public in engaging, accessible ways. The core expectation is that every proposed project is firmly grounded in humanities scholarship, drawing on fields such as history, art history, film studies, literature, drama, religious studies, philosophy, and anthropology. NEH is looking for work that does more than present information or tell a story in a purely celebratory way. Projects need to take a thoughtful, balanced, and analytical approach that helps audiences understand why a topic matters, places it in context, and encourages critical thinking about its broader significance.
Because NEH is a national funding agency, proposals must show clear potential to reach a broad general audience, not just specialists or a narrow local community. For film and television, projects can be single standalone programs or multi-part series focused on important people, events, themes, or ideas. They must be intended for national distribution, whether through traditional broadcast and streaming carriage or online distribution channels. NEH is open to a wide range of running times, from short-form pieces to broadcast-length programs, as long as the public-facing impact and humanities content are strong.
A notable emphasis within the program is support for film and television projects that explore international humanities themes in ways that help U.S. audiences engage with the wider world. Proposals addressing international subjects are expected to show meaningful cross-border collaboration, such as involving scholars based both in the United States and abroad and/or assembling an international media team. The point of these collaborations is to bring multiple cultural perspectives to the topic while still keeping the primary audience focus on the U.S. public.
For radio and audio, the program supports single episodes, limited series, or segments that fit into an ongoing program. Applicants may propose entirely new humanities programming or add deeper historical background and humanities analysis to topics already covered in existing shows. Distribution can be regional or national depending on the nature of the project and the intended audience reach, but the proposal still needs to demonstrate strong public engagement potential.
NEH also encourages applicants to think beyond a single platform by pairing the main media project with complementary public engagement components. These add-ons are meant to deepen audience understanding in practical, accessible ways, such as discussion programs tied to a broadcast, educational or interpretive websites, or even related museum exhibitions. The idea is to extend the humanities experience beyond the screen or speaker and create additional points of entry for learning and community engagement.
The opportunity offers two main grant types. Development grants support early-stage work, helping media producers collaborate with humanities scholars to shape the content and get a project ready for production. A development award is expected to result in a script for film or television or a detailed treatment for radio/podcasts, and it may also produce an outreach and public engagement plan. Production grants support the actual production and distribution of completed media projects that are well-positioned to reach and interest broad public audiences.
From an eligibility standpoint, NEH allows a wide range of applicants, including state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions). The funding instrument is a discretionary grant within the humanities funding category (CFDA 45.164). The listed maximum award amount is up to $1,000,000. The source listing for this specific posting shows an original closing date of January 10, 2018 (Funding Opportunity Number 20180110 TD), which is important for historical reference, though anyone interested should verify current deadlines and guidelines on NEH materials for the most up-to-date cycle requirements.Apply for 20180110 TD
- The National Endowment for the Humanities in the humanities 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 2017-11-09.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-01-10. (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, Private institutions of higher education.
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NEH Media Projects Grants Program - FAQs
What is the NEH Media Projects Grants program?
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Media Projects Grants program funds film, television, and radio projects (including podcasts) that bring humanities ideas to the public in engaging, accessible ways. A central expectation is that the project is firmly grounded in humanities scholarship and helps general audiences think critically about a topic and its broader significance.
What kinds of media formats are eligible under this opportunity?
The program supports:
- Film and television projects (single programs or multi-part series)
- Radio and audio projects, including podcasts (single episodes, limited series, or segments within an ongoing program)
Which humanities fields does NEH expect projects to draw from?
Projects are expected to be grounded in humanities scholarship and may draw on fields such as history, art history, film studies, literature, drama, religious studies, philosophy, and anthropology.
What is the core content expectation for a proposed project?
NEH expects proposals to go beyond simply presenting information or telling a story in a purely celebratory way. Projects should take a thoughtful, balanced, and analytical approach that places the topic in context, explains why it matters, and encourages critical thinking about its wider meaning and impact.
Does NEH fund projects focused only on a local audience?
Because NEH is a national funding agency, proposals must show clear potential to reach a broad general audience rather than only specialists or a narrow local community. Audience reach and public-facing impact are a key part of the program's expectations.
For film and television projects, what kinds of distributions are expected?
Film and television projects must be intended for national distribution. This can include traditional broadcast and streaming carriage or online distribution channels, as long as the project is positioned to reach broad public audiences.
Are there restrictions on running time for film and television projects?
NEH is open to a wide range of running times, from short-form pieces to broadcast-length programs, as long as the humanities content and public-facing impact are strong.
Does the program support international humanities topics?
Yes. The program places notable emphasis on supporting film and television projects that explore international humanities themes in ways that help U.S. audiences engage with the wider world.
What does NEH expect from projects with international subjects?
Proposals that address international subjects are expected to demonstrate meaningful cross-border collaboration. Examples include involving scholars based both in the United States and abroad and/or assembling an international media team. These collaborations are meant to bring multiple cultural perspectives while keeping the primary audience focus on the U.S. public.
What kinds of radio and audio projects are supported?
For radio and audio (including podcasts), NEH supports single episodes, limited series, or segments that fit into an ongoing program. Applicants may propose new humanities programming or add deeper historical background and humanities analysis to topics already covered in an existing show.
Does radio/audio distribution have to be national?
Radio and audio distribution can be regional or national depending on the nature of the project and its intended audience reach. Even so, the proposal still needs to demonstrate strong public engagement potential.
Can a project include public engagement components beyond the main film, TV, or audio program?
Yes. NEH encourages applicants to pair the primary media project with complementary public engagement components designed to deepen audience understanding in accessible ways.
What are examples of complementary public engagement components?
Examples described include discussion programs tied to a broadcast, educational or interpretive websites, and related museum exhibitions. The purpose is to extend the humanities experience beyond the screen or speaker and create additional points of entry for learning and community engagement.
What types of grants are offered under this opportunity?
The opportunity offers two main grant types:
- Development grants for early-stage work to help media producers collaborate with humanities scholars to shape content and prepare a project for production.
- Production grants to support the production and distribution of completed media projects that are well-positioned to reach and interest broad public audiences.
What deliverables are expected from a Development grant?
A Development award is expected to result in a script for film or television or a detailed treatment for radio/podcasts. It may also produce an outreach and public engagement plan.
What is the focus of a Production grant?
Production grants support the actual production and distribution of completed media projects that are ready to reach broad public audiences and present strong humanities content.
Who is eligible to apply for this NEH grant opportunity?
NEH allows a wide range of applicants, including:
- State, county, and city or township governments
- Special district governments
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions)
What type of funding instrument is this?
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary grant.
What is the funding category and CFDA number listed for this program?
The funding category is humanities, and the CFDA number listed is 45.164.
What is the maximum award amount?
The listed maximum award amount is up to $1,000,000.
What was the closing date listed in the source posting, and does it still apply?
The source listing for this specific posting shows an original closing date of January 10, 2018, with Funding Opportunity Number 20180110 TD. This date is important for historical reference, but anyone interested should verify current deadlines and guidelines using NEH materials for the most up-to-date cycle requirements.
How should applicants treat the deadline information in this listing?
Based on the information provided, the posted deadline appears to reflect a past cycle. Applicants should confirm the current application timeline and requirements directly through NEH guidance for the current funding cycle.
Is a humanities scholar role implied in the program requirements?
Yes. The program emphasizes that projects must be grounded in humanities scholarship, and Development grants specifically support collaboration between media producers and humanities scholars to shape the content.
Can the project be a series rather than a single program?
Yes. For film and television, projects can be single standalone programs or multi-part series focused on important people, events, themes, or ideas.
Does NEH prioritize engagement and accessibility for general audiences?
Yes. The program description emphasizes engaging, accessible humanities content and expects proposals to demonstrate the potential to reach and interest broad public audiences.
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| Humanities Initiatives Apply for 20180719 AB Funding Number: 20180719 AB Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities Funding Amount: $100,000 |
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