April 24, 2018 – Over 50 representatives from civic and cultural organizations around Rhode Island gathered Monday at the Southside Cultural Center of Rhode Island as the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities announced a total of $136,429 in new grants to 14 humanities initiatives across the state. The announcement recognized Rhode Island’s strong humanities community and the role the humanities play in civic and community engagement.
“As the Humanities Council celebrates our 45th year of grantmaking, we are delighted to recognize this year’s major grant recipients for the innovative ways their projects engage diverse audiences and provide necessary spaces for community connection, reflection on past and present, and conversation about our collective future,” said Elizabeth Francis, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities. Awards were announced by the Humanities Council’s Board Chair Touba Ghadessi, PhD, and Grants and Programs Officer Logan Hinderliter.
Among the recipients, Pushed Learning and Media was awarded $10,100 in support of Teacher Training, Curriculum Development, & Academic Support for Teachers and Ethnic Studies Programs. At the Humanities Happy Hour following the Grant Announcement, project directors Eric Axelman and Taylor Lomba discussed their project working with teachers and students in eight schools across the state connecting hip hop and the humanities to promote civil dialogue.
The Rhode Island Council for the Humanities seeds, supports, and strengthens public history, cultural heritage, civic education, and community engagement by and for all Rhode Islanders. Since 1973, the Council has provided over $8 million in grants to support more than 650 organizations throughout the state of Rhode Island, as well as independent researchers and filmmakers.
2018 MAJOR GRANT AWARDS
PUBLIC PROJECTS
In support of organizations and projects that enrich and enliven the life of our state through public humanities programs.
- New Urban Arts, $12,000 to Scholar and Program Support for Summer Art Internships
- Manton Avenue Project, $12,000 to Playwriting as Civic Engagement Series for Young People in Olneyville
- newportFILM, $12,000 to newportFILM OUTDOORS 2018
- RISD Museum, $5,000 to Program Planning for Designing Innovation: The Gorham Manufacturing Company 1850-1970
- South County History Center, $9,480 to Resilient Rhode Island: Disasters & Determination in the Ocean State
- Rhode Island Latino Arts, $10,000 to Este es Mi Barrio – Community Walking Tours
- Little Compton Historical Society, $12,000 to Remember Me – Little Compton’s 45 Historic Cemeteries
- Providence Preservation Society, $12,000 to Sites and Stories Explored through Community Engaged Art and Scholarship
- Stages of Freedom, $9,999 to America’s First Black Diva: Sissieretta Jones at 150
DOCUMENTARY FILM
In support of documentary films that preserve Rhode Island’s stories and bring its history to life.
- Center for Independent Documentary, $5,000 to Unjuried/Uncensored: Making AS220
- Rhode Island Public Broadcasting System, $5,000 to The Missing Season: Race and Community in Rhode Island’s Golden Age of Baseball
- Rhode Island Historical Society, $12,000 to Triple Decker, A New England Love Story
K-12 CIVIC EDUCATION
In support of projects that enhance the humanities components of K-12 education and cultivate the civic leaders of future generations.
- Meeting Street, $9,850 to “Be the Change”: The Grace School Public Policy Initiative
- Pushed Learning and Media/New Urban Arts, $10,100 to Teacher Training, Curriculum Development, & Academic Support for Teachers & Ethnic Studies Programs
2018 Grant Announcement and Humanities Happy Hour at the Southside Cultural Center of Rhode Island
For all images credit: Matt Ferrara Photography
