The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) invites applications to the Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants program. This program is designed to encourage innovations in the digital humanities. By awarding relatively small grants to support the planning stages, NEH aims to encourage the development of innovative projects that promise to benefit the humanities. Proposals should be for the planning or initial stages of digital initiatives in any area of the humanities. Innovation is a hallmark of this grant category. All applicants must propose an innovative approach, method, tool, or idea that has not been used before in the humanities. These grants are modeled, in part, on the “high risk/high reward” paradigm often used by funding agencies in the sciences. NEH is requesting proposals for projects that take some risks in the pursuit of innovation and excellence. Two levels of awards will be made in this program:
- Level I awards - ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 in outright funding - are small grants designed to fund brainstorming sessions, workshops, early alpha-level prototypes, and initial planning.
- Level II awards - ranging from $30,001 to $60,000 in outright funding - are larger grants that can be used for more fully-formed projects that are ready to begin implementation or demonstrate proofs of concept.
Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants support full-time or part-time activities for periods up to eighteen months.
The deadline for applications is September 25, 2012 (for projects beginning May 2013).
For more information, see the program guidelines or contact Christopher Tassava (ctassava or x5833).