Application Deadline for Picturing America Extended until November 14

School and Library Districts May Apply for All their Members to Receive Free Education Resource in Spring 2009

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) announced today that the deadline for Picturing America applications has been extended to November 14, 2008. Now, additional schools, libraries, and school and library districts will have the opportunity to apply for Picturing America, an innovative, free resource that provides educators with an engaging way to teach American history and other subjects through great American art.

“Picturing America is helping our citizens explore the people, places, and events that have shaped our country. Over the past few weeks, the Endowment has received a flood of thank you letters from teachers, librarians, and even students, who recently received their own Picturing America sets and are amazed at how the images are truly helping to tell the story of America,” said NEH Chairman Bruce Cole. “By extending the current application period, the Endowment wants to ensure this same opportunity is available to every school or library wishing to apply.”

Picturing America includes 40 laminated large, high-quality reproductions of significant American art and a comprehensive teachers resource book with lesson ideas to facilitate the use of the images in all K‑12 grade levels and subject areas.

Schools and libraries may apply for the program in a simple, online application process. School and library districts may also apply for every institution in their jurisdiction with one, single application. Details and instructions are available at PicturingAmerica.neh.gov.

To date, more than 26,000 schools and public libraries—representing an estimated 10 million K-12 students across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories—have received Picturing America. Schools and public libraries submitting their applications prior to the new November 14 deadline will receive their Picturing America materials in spring 2009. Please note that previous recipients of the Picturing America collection are not eligible for a second award.

To learn information about Picturing America, read testimonials from educators (please refer to the attached file in the box above), or view the images available in the collection, please visit the Picturing America Web site.

About Picturing America

Public, private, parochial, and charter and home school consortia (K-12), as well as public libraries in the United States and its territories, are eligible to receive Picturing America materials. Interested schools and public libraries are encouraged to apply through the NEH through Nov. 14, 2008 for receipt of the materials in spring 2009. Detailed instructions for submitting an application can be found in the ‘Apply Now’ section of the Picturing America Web site.

Picturing America comes with a comprehensive package of materials that includes:

• Forty large, high-quality color reproductions of the selected masterpieces (24" x 36");
• A comprehensive teachers resource book providing a wide range of ideas and background information to support educators using the works of art in core subject areas; and
• Additional resources and lesson plans available through the Picturing America Web site.

Acknowledgments

The NEH wishes to thank the following: the American Library Association (ALA); the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Head Start; the Institute of Museum and Library Services; the Department of Defense Educational Activity; the National Park Service; Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Smith; the History Channel; and the National Trust for the Humanities.

Picturing America is distributed by the NEH in cooperation with the ALA. For information about the ALA, please visit www.ala.org.