Humanities New York and its nine partner universities, comprising the Humanities Centers Initiative, invite proposals from graduate students in support of their efforts to establish themselves as public scholars and develop public projects.
All proposals must be submitted by March 31, 2025. Applicants will be informed of decisions by May 31, 2025.
Humanities New York will hold a virtual information session about this opportunity on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 4 p.m.
Interested applicants should submit proposals for projects that incorporate humanities topics and methods, and which are public-facing in a substantial way: intended for public audiences, engaging members of the public as collaborators, and/or partnering with community groups. Projects of any format or type will be considered, including but not limited to workshops, podcasts, exhibits, walking tours, oral histories, and others. They may be underway or still in development, but the applying graduate student must be a project director.
In addition to funding in support of the project, all awarded fellows will participate in Humanities New York grantee cohorts, which provide the opportunity to meet and converse with public humanities professionals across New York State, as well as receive invitations to Humanities New York workshops, gatherings, and events.
The grant is for $8,000, paid in two installments: 90% upon award, and the final 10% upon submission of a final report. The award period begins on July 1, 2025, and fellows have up to one year to expend funds. Fellows are required to submit a final report after the completion of the award period.
Funding may be spent on travel expenses, consultant fees, wages for labor, participant honoraria, marketing, venue space, project materials, and media costs, among other things. If you have a question about what costs can be covered, please contact HNY.
All proposals must be submitted through Humanities New York’s online portal: https://humanitiesnewyork.my.site.com. Applicants must create an account in advance of applying.
All proposals must be submitted by March 31, 2025. Applicants will be informed of decisions by May 31, 2025.
Applicants must be enrolled as a graduate student at one of these nine universities at the time of application:
The Humanities Centers Initiative (HCI) is an innovative statewide partnership between Humanities New York and a network of humanities centers based at nine New York State universities. Launched in 2012, the HCI supports humanities institutes, faculty, and graduate students in their commitment to public engagement.
Anyone enrolled as a graduate student at one of the nine partner universities at the time of application: New York University, Columbia University, Stony Brook University, CUNY Graduate Center, Binghamton University, Syracuse University, Cornell University, University at Buffalo, and University of Rochester.
Yes. If you are enrolled in a graduate program at one of the universities at the time of application, you are still eligible.
No. You can apply to the fellowship regardless of your home department, as long as the program or project you are proposing has public humanities content.
No. But some of the participating universities have preferences for PhD students over MA students, so you should contact the head of the Humanities Center at your university for more information.
Either one. The project can be one that will be initiated with the funds, or already underway and in need of support.
Any project or program that has substantial public humanities content and methods, broadly conceived. That is, it engages some segment of the public as collaborator and audience, and utilizes the tools and methods of the humanities in its content and execution.
Projects that remain tied to academic activities or within the walls of the university, including dissertation research, curriculum development, or engagement solely with the academic community.
Preference given is to applicants who have never received support for their project before, and those projects that articulate a clear impact on the community they serve.
No. Those who hold a student visa can also apply. However, you should check with your university’s international student office regarding whether students on a visa can receive funds directly, or how they should otherwise be paid.
Projects can involve communities and audiences outside New York State, but must involve New York residents in some way.
Yes - but for the purposes of the application, one person should be designated as the primary project director.
Funds can be spent on a variety of project expenses, including but not limited to: travel costs; participant and consultant honoraria and fees; venue and space rental; marketing materials; project director wages; software purchases or equipment rentals; catering; production costs; and more. If you have a question about whether a particular expense qualifies, please ask!
If you have any additional questions about the HCI Public Humanities Grant, please contact Director of Programs Adam Capitanio at programs@humanitiesny.org.
The mission of Humanities New York is to strengthen civil society and the bonds of community, using the humanities to foster engaged inquiry and dialogue around social and cultural concerns. Founded in 1975, Humanities New York is the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and is the sole statewide proponent of public access to the humanities. HNY is a private 501(c)3 that receives Federal, State, and private funding.