Frequently Asked Questions

Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections

 

What are the humanities?

According to the 1965 National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act, “The term ‘humanities’ includes, but is not limited to, the study of the following: language, both modern and classical; linguistics; literature; history; jurisprudence; philosophy; archaeology; comparative religion; ethics; the history, criticism and theory of the arts; those aspects of social sciences which have humanistic content and employ humanistic methods; and the study and application of the humanities to the human environment with particular attention to reflecting our diverse heritage, traditions, and history and to the relevance of the humanities to the current conditions of national life.”

We mean strategies that balance preservation effectiveness, cost, and environmental impact. The emphasis on preventive conservation should be on defining and mitigating the greatest risks to collections, rather than meeting a prescriptive target. A growing body of research suggests that institutions can more easily develop effective and affordable preservation measures, particularly those that manage the environment surrounding collections, by undertaking collaborative and interdisciplinary planning. We therefore encourage interdisciplinary planning that analyzes collections and their current condition and risks, the characteristics of the building that houses the collections, energy usage and environmental impact, and local climatic conditions.

Here is a list of sources about sustainable strategies that is by no means comprehensive. The proceedings from the conferences and meetings mentioned below are intended as starting points for further exploration.

March 2011: National Archives and Records Administration 25th Annual Preservation Conference: Conservation2 = Preserving Collections x Our Environment http://www.archives.gov/preservation/conferences/2011/

March 2011: Association for Preservation Technology, Washington DC Chapter, Spring Symposium; abstracts are online for Climate Management in Historic Buildings — the Old, the Cold, and the Mold http://www.aptdc.org/

May 2010: Third IIC [International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works] Roundtable - The Plus/Minus Dilemma: The Way Forward in Environmental Guidelines from the American Institute for Conservation annual meeting (video of the discussion)
www.artbabble.org/video/plusminus-dilemma-way-forward-environmental-guidelines

March 2010: National Archives and Records Administration 24th Annual Preservation Conference: Plan for Preservation: Assess, Prioritize, and Manage
www.archives.gov/preservation/conferences/2010/

May 2009: Sustainable Cultural Heritage, a conference sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
www.neh.gov/projects/Conference_09May/NEH-CNR_Conference.htm

September 2008: International Institute for Conservation London Congress roundtable discussion
www.iiconservation.org/docs/IIC_climate_change_transcript.pdf

November 2007: From Gray Areas to Green Areas: Developing Sustainable Practices in Preservation Environments
www.ischool.utexas.edu/kilgarlin/gaga/

April 2007: Experts’ Roundtable on Sustainable Climate Management Strategies
www.getty.edu/conservation/science/climate/climate_experts_roundtable.html

Do not assume that the collections’ significance will be evident to readers; the description of the content of the collections should enable evaluators to understand the humanities themes that could be explored through exhibitions, educational programs, and research. Discuss specific exhibitions, educational programs, and research projects that illustrate how the collections have been used in support of the humanities. Explain how the project may enhance your institution’s ability to use the collections.

Explain the tasks for the project staff and consultants and provide a schedule for the completion of the work, which may be presented as a narrative or a chart. Depending on the project, the description of the work plan may be organized by type or duration of activity (e.g., three- or six-month intervals). The plan should be presented in enough detail to demonstrate that you have thoroughly considered each step of the project and that you are ready to begin. By describing in detail the responsibilities of the project personnel, you will justify the corresponding allocation of staff time, as shown in the project budget, and the qualifications and experience required of the project staff, as reflected in résumés and job descriptions.

This grant program seeks to support planning projects that bring together a variety of experts, including architects, building engineers, conservation scientists, conservators, curators, facilities managers, and others. Although the most important consideration is to assemble a qualified team appropriate to the project, panelists tend to look favorably on teams that include experts from both within and beyond your institution.

Under the budget category “Other costs,” include an estimated breakdown (of up to $10,000) that shows how the funds might be divided among supplies, equipment, and services.

We understand that you cannot predetermine the recommendations that the planning process will yield. However, by identifying your consultants and discussing the scope of your planning project with them as you prepare your application, you should be able to suggest a range of possible activities. You can summarize these in your narrative.

Yes. Although NEH cannot support the construction of new buildings or the installation of systems (other than storage furniture) in new buildings through Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections, we are able to support planning related to the preservation needs of collections that would be housed in new buildings or renovated facilities.

No. You should instead apply to NEH’s Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions, which offers awards of up to $6,000 for preservation assessments and consultations on a variety of preservation issues. We expect that planning grants through Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections will be best suited for relatively complex projects that would require a team of specialists.

No. You do not have to progress from an NEH planning grant to an NEH implementation grant. But all implementation projects should be based on sound planning. Support for that planning might come from NEH, from other federal or foundation grants, or from an institution’s own funds.

No. You should determine the percentage of the space in your building that is occupied by humanities collections. If humanities collections occupy 60 percent of the building, then 60 percent of the costs of climate control are eligible for support and may be included in the project’s budget.

It is not necessary to prorate the costs of security and fire protection systems, which must function building-wide to be effective.

We have not defined precisely the kinds of supplementary materials that applicants should submit as appendices. You should submit supplementary materials that are appropriate for your project. We urge the submission of only limited appendices, because panelists must read many applications. Include only material that is directly relevant to the proposed activity. More general reports or plans might be summarized. Because evaluators receive all applications in electronic form, you may wish in some cases to use hyperlinks to relevant online sites or documents within the body of the narrative.

Yes. Applicants are encouraged to seek other financial support. We do ask that you tell us about proposals to other funding sources, so that we can better understand the project’s financial picture.

Your proposal will be read by humanities scholars, preservation and conservation professionals, museum curators, librarians, archivists, and administrators of cultural organizations. It is just as important to articulate the significance of your collections to the humanities by describing your collections and their uses as it is to present a detailed work plan based on solid planning and the advice of appropriate consultants. NEH staff also comments on matters of fact or on significant issues that otherwise would be missing from the reviews of outside evaluators and then makes recommendations to the National Council on the Humanities. The National Council meets at various times during the year to advise the NEH chairman on grants. The chairman takes into account the advice provided by the review process and, by law, makes all funding decisions.

You may request copies of the comments by evaluators. A revised application should take into consideration the issues that they raised. However, a resubmitted application will be reviewed by persons who will not have knowledge of or access to the previous application file.