Kentucky Grants for the Humanities
The premier organization in the state of Kentucky that awards funding in the form of grants to public humanities projects is the Kentucky Humanities Council, based in Lexington. The Kentucky Arts Council, a government agency, also funds some humanities projects, although it emphasizes projects in the visual and performing arts.
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Identification
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Founded in 1972, the Kentucky Humanities Council provides grant money to nonprofit organizations in the Bluegrass State for certain projects relating to the humanities that meet established criteria and are geared directly toward groups of Kentuckians. The council is a nonprofit, private organization affiliated with the National Endowment for the Humanities, based in Washington, D.C.
Types
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The Kentucky Humanities Council's minigrant program awards endowments of $1,200 or less, on a month-by-month basis, to nonprofit groups to support public projects. The council funds endeavors such as book discussions, conferences, exhibits, festivals and media productions in various subjects such as archaeology, folklore, history, language and literature -- with an emphasis on culture in each categorization. The Humanities Council does not award grants to individuals.
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Potential
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In addition to nonprofit groups, minigrants from the Kentucky Humanities Council may be available to fund community projects in the event that a reputable representative conducts financial business for the group. The council requires that a source of matching funds, preferably local, be established, either from the applicant organization or from an additional sponsor, to validate interest in the project.
Function
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The Humanities Council gives precedence to programs designed to appeal to large groups of adults that mirror the population of the commonwealth in cultural, ethnic and racial diversity. According to the council, projects with a broad appeal and comprehensive emphasis on the humanities are more likely to be approved.
Misconceptions
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The humanities minigrant program is not available for classroom projects, historical preservation, renovation or construction of buildings or to fund work completed at an earlier date. In addition, research projects, book publishing endeavors, operating expenses, new equipment purchases and "how to" projects do not qualify. Furthermore, any type of project that advocates a particular political or religious philosophy is not considered.
Considerations
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Under the umbrella of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, the Kentucky Arts Council, a taxpayer-funded state agency, supports both individual artists and organizations across the commonwealth. Arts Council awards are dispersed in the form of grants, fellowships and stipends. Certain grants from this agency overlap into the fields historically associated with the humanities, and a one-time individual grant through the Arts Council can range into thousands of dollars.
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