State History

This article originally appeared on the Humanities New York website.

Humanities New York (HNY) announced nearly $1 million in CARES Act funding to 197 New York cultural nonprofits affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. HNY CARES Emergency Grants focus on organizations with a core humanities mission, and range from $2500 to $15,000, reaching every region in New York. These grants may be used flexibly, whether for personnel, costs associated with the pandemic, or to maintain or adapt the humanities programs that are proving very useful to keep people connected during the pandemic.

Sarah Gelman Carney, Chair, said from Buffalo that she was “amazed at the resilience of the cultural organizations of our state” and the “incredible efforts they are making even now to continue to nurture their audiences.”

HNY reviewed 325 applications from cultural organizations requesting nearly $3 million in funding. Approximately 60 percent of the applicants were funded. HNY prioritized equitable grantmaking by considering geographic location, mission, and the importance of reaching underrepresented communities in its funding decisions.

The objective of the 197 awards is to help organizations remain vital to their communities by being better able to retain staff, shift in-person programming to online, and make resources available to those who depend on them for education and connection. Read more...