Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants for Innovative Projects

Posted by on October 24, 2010

National Endowment for the Humanities Offers Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants for Innovative Projects
Deadline: February 23, 2011

The National Endowment for the Humanities is inviting applications to the Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants program, which is designed to encourage innovations in the digital humanities. By awarding relatively small grants to projects in the planning stages, NEH aims to encourage the development of innovations that promise to benefit the humanities.

Proposals should be for the planning or initial stages of digital initiatives in any area of the humanities. Projects may involve research, new approaches, or best practices in the study of the digital humanities; planning and developing prototypes of new digital tools for preserving, analyzing, and making accessible digital resources, including libraries’ and museums’ digital assets; scholarship or studies that examine the philosophical or practical implications and impact of the use of emerging technologies in specific fields or disciplines of the humanities, or in interdisciplinary collaborations involving several fields or disciplines; innovative uses of technology for public programming and education utilizing both traditional and new media; and new digital modes of publication that facilitate the dissemination of humanities scholarship in advanced academic as well as informal or formal educational settings at all levels.

Applicants must propose an innovative approach, method, tool, or idea that has not been used before in the humanities. Grants should result in plans, prototypes, or proofs of concept for long-term digital humanities projects prior to implementation.

Two levels of awards are available:

Level I awards are small grants (ranging from $5,000 to $25,000) designed to fund brainstorming sessions, workshops, early alpha-level prototypes, and initial planning. In addition to early planning toward an innovative prototype, Level I proposals should identify a problem or research question, explore a research agenda, or discover appropriate methodologies or technologies. Outcomes for Level I projects would likely include reports, position papers, and plans for subsequent steps and future research or development. Level I grants may also fund conferences or workshops addressing specific topics related to the impact of technology on the humanities. Proposals should include specific plans for broad dissemination of project outcomes.

Level II awards are larger grants (ranging from $25,001 to $50,000) that can be used for more fully formed projects that are ready to be implemented or demonstrate proofs of concept. Level II proposals should therefore include a more articulated plan of work leading to concrete and tangible outcomes, such as working prototypes, test beds, or demonstration projects.

Grants will support full- or part-time activities for periods of up to eighteen months. Support is available for various combinations of scholars, consultants, and research assistants; project-related travel; and technical support and services. Up to 20 percent of the total grant may be used for the acquisition of computing hardware and software.

Eligibility is limited to U.S. nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations or institutions, state and local governmental agencies, and Native American tribal organizations. Individuals are not eligible to apply.

Visit the NEH Web site for complete program guidelines and application procedures.

http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/digitalhumanitiesstartup.html