Protecting our Cultural Heritage

As a result of armed conflict, war, looting, natural disasters, economic development, poor management, and tourism, humanity’s cultural legacy is under increasing duress.  In recognition of this multifaceted problem, NEH encourages projects that conduct research and develop resources for the study, documentation, and presentation of imperiled cultural heritage materials, including, but not limited to, the

• development of databases, virtual collections, or other digital resources;
• reconstruction or simulation of works of art, objects, monuments, buildings, sites, or landscapes through 3D models and virtual environments;
• creation of  interpretive materials to contextualize research and/or digital representations;
• development of tools, methods, technologies, or workflows for virtual representations;
• training of researchers and cultural heritage specialists to expand expertise on topics such as risk assessment and preservation approaches, and the use of visualization tools;
• creation of education and training materials and events for teachers to work with threatened cultural heritage materials (for example by integrating digital representations into their pedagogical practices); and
• development of collaborations (including international ones) for data-sharing, knowledge exchange, and training.

Interested applicants should consult with NEH program officers in the Divisions of  Education Programs, Preservation and Access, Public Programs, and Research Programs, and the Office of Digital Humanities to determine which NEH program would be appropriate for their proposed project.

The "Protecting our Cultural Heritage" special encouragement applies to the following NEH grant programs: