Explore the Mass Humanities funded projects awarded from 2000 to the present. Browse by grant type, city, region or keyword. Subscribe and receive news when grants are awarded. Interact with a state map of grants awarded!
We Are Here to Honor Liberty and to Denounce Slavery
The development of new mini-courses-regarding the radical social reformers who settled in Florence in the 1840s, and what their stories teach about contemporary issues-for visiting school groups, which will be brought to teachers in a professional development workshop.
Florence, MA, Hampshire County (CT Valley)
project director: Tom Goldscheider
awarded on: 2018-03-16
amount: $7,500
G is for Gun: The Arming of Teachers in America - Interactive Website, MA Distribution
A film distribution project, including the creation of an interactive website and curriculum guide-both focused on constitutional law, ethics, and the history of conflict in the United States-as well as a large, public Massachusetts screening and discussion (preceding the film's broadcast on WGBY).
Dayton, OH, Montgomery County
project director: Kate Way
awarded on: 2018-03-16
amount: $14,850
Self-Guided Historical Walking Tour of Boston's Chinatown
The design and production of a walking-tour brochure of Boston's Chinatown, intended to complement the city's other self-guided walking tours, including the Freedom Trail, Black Heritage Trail, and Women's Trail.
Boston, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)
project director: Susan Chinsen
awarded on: 2018-03-16
amount: $7,500
Black Creativity in Comics
A public event with graphic novelist and scholar John Jennings and other scholars of black comics, which will push audiences to consider questions about the history of black comics, Afro-futurism, colonialism, civil rights, and the future of publishing.
Boston, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)
project director: L'Merchie Frazier
awarded on: 2018-03-16
amount: $6,400
Haul Away Together: History, Diversity and the Sea in Story and Song
The introduction of already-successful humanities-based programs to adults in the Boston area; the organization's programs-originally created for teens and young adults-are based on songs and stories of the sea that include the oft-ignored experiences of African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, young people, and women.
Boston, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)
project director: Bruce Berman
awarded on: 2018-03-16
amount: $15,000
Left on Pearl
The implementation of an online user interface to promote distribution of the film that will allow organizations and individuals to host screenings and to download a screening guide (with historical context and discussion questions).
Cambridge, MA, Middlesex County (Greater Boston)
project director: Susan Rivo
awarded on: 2018-03-16
amount: $15,000
John Adams Courthouse Visitors Film (Trailer)
The creation of a film trailer to raise funds for a visitors film-supported by input from historians and legal scholars-for the John Adams Courthouse.
Boston, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)
project director: Wendy Lement
awarded on: 2018-03-16
amount: $15,000
Through Our Eyes: Photographic Portraits of Immigrant Lives in Fall River
A photography-and-cultural-studies project with recently arrived immigrants in ESOL classes; adult students will find opportunities to document, reflect on, and share their own stories and experiences, while also learning from their classmates and from humanities-based texts and photographs.
Fall River, MA, Bristol County (Southeast)
project director: Andrea Klimt
awarded on: 2018-03-16
amount: $8,800
"The Day History Marched Down Our Streets" Exhibition Planning Grant
Research and planning for a permanent exhibit about the events based in Arlington on the first day of the American Revolution: April 19, 1775.
Arlington, MA, Middlesex County (Metrowest Boston)
project director: Sara Lundberg
awarded on: 2018-03-16
amount: $7,500
A Dual Legacy: Nathaniel Hawthorne and The House of the Seven Gables
A series of public programs based on the influence and legacy of Nathaniel Hawthorne to take place during the celebratory summer of 2018, which marks the 350th-anniversary of the House's founding.
Salem, MA, Essex County (Northeast)
project director: Julie Arrison-Bishop
awarded on: 2018-03-16
amount: $5,025
Religious History of Somerville
Research and planning for an exhibition on religious institutions and groups in Somerville, with the intention of tackling issues of immigration, religious tradition and history, and religious practices, and contemporary religious communities.
Somerville, MA, Middlesex County
project director: Charan Devereaux
awarded on: 2018-03-16
amount: $13,700
Westford Stories: Permanent Exhibitions of the Westford Museum
The implementation of permanent exhibitions "Stories of Westford" and "History of Westford Academy," which will engage audiences in the history of Westford Academy-the state's oldest standing coeducational secondary school building-and Westford's beginnings.
Westford, MA, Middlesex County (Northeast)
project director: Penny Lacroix
awarded on: 2018-03-16
amount: $7,500
Symposium 2018: The History and Future of Public Health in Lawrence
A one-day symposium on the history and future of public health in Lawrence.
Lawrence, MA, Essex County (Northeast)
project director: Susan Grabski
awarded on: 2017-12-08
amount: $7,500
Neighborhood Voices: Stories of the Families of the Dudley Street Neighborhood of Boston
An oral history project documenting the stories of families living in the Dudley Street neighborhood.
Roxbury, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)
project director: Rosalind Everdell
awarded on: 2017-12-08
amount: $7,500
Dialoguing with Indigenous Americans in our Community through Peter Pan
Scholarly consulting, the creation of informative playbills, and a post-performance discussion of a student production of Peter Pan.
Ashburnham, MA, Worcester County (Central)
project director: Jeffrey Aubuchon
awarded on: 2017-12-08
amount: $4,615
Exploring the Historical Context of Plays Through Merrimack Repertory Theatre's Cohort Club
An audience immersion pilot program for about 100 community residents to explore how historical theater is produced-through lenses of dramaturgy, cultural studies, and history.
Lowell, MA, Middlesex County (Northeast)
project director: Sean Daniels
awarded on: 2017-12-08
amount: $14,750
Activate the Arboretum
An environmental history project for Auburn Public School students that is led by a humanities scholar and includes lessons, a photography project, an exhibit, and a tour.
Auburn, MA, Worcester County (Central)
project director: Sarah Connell
awarded on: 2017-12-08
amount: $7,500
Afro Latin Folktales Project
An out-of-school literature and theatre project for youth leaders to explore themes of immigration, cultural assimilation, and belonging in relationship to Boston immigrant communities.
Jamaica Plain, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)
project director: Eva Farrell
awarded on: 2017-12-08
amount: $15,000
The Future of Our Past: Building Capacity in the History Community
Implementation funds for eight local history organizations to implement capacity-building projects after completing six intensive workshops on best practices.
Deerfield, MA, Franklin County (CT Valley)
project director: Clifford McCarthy
awarded on: 2017-12-08
amount: $7,500
Taryn Simon: Public Humanities Programming
Development of new public humanities programs to complement an upcoming exhibition by Taryn Simon, whose art revolves around Russian culture and Russo-American relations.
North Adams, MA, Berkshire County (Berkshire)
project director: Alexandra Foradas
awarded on: 2017-12-08
amount: $10,000
Windmill Point Historic Interpretation
Permanent outdoor local history interpretive panels on the US Coast Guard presence in Hull.
Hull, MA, Plymouth County (Southeast)
project director: Victoria Stevens
awarded on: 2017-12-08
amount: $7,500
On the Move Forum: Exploring Women's History Through Diverse Perspectives and Inclusive Stories
A community dialogue and multimedia interactive presentation on women's history in downtown Springfield, followed by a public display on Bay Path's campus.
Longmeadow, MA, Hampden County (CT Valley)
project director: Janine Fondon
awarded on: 2017-12-08
amount: $5,000
Journey to Equality: the LGBTQ Civil Rights Movement
A series of humanities exhibits and events, held throughout North Central Massachusetts, about LGBTQ issues, rights, and histories.
Fitchburg, MA, Worcester County (Central)
project director: Karen F. Mays
awarded on: 2017-12-08
amount: $5,100
African Cultural Conversation Series
A monthly series of humanities discussions and cultural programs aimed toward-and developed with-Waltham's large African immigrant community.
Waltham, MA, Middlesex County (Metrowest Boston)
project director: Juliet Najjumba
awarded on: 2017-12-08
amount: $10,000
The Veteran Experience and the Social Contract: A Performance and Discussion Series
A three-part performance-and-discussion series on the veteran experience designed to attract and engage both veterans and civilians.
New Bedford, MA, Bristol County (Southeast)
project director: Rosemary Gill
awarded on: 2017-12-08
amount: $12,500
The 9 to 5 Project
Distribution of the documentary film "9 to 5" by means of community screenings and discussions-with a prepared discussion guide-in partnership with community organizations, unions, labor schools, and scholars in Boston and Western Massachusetts.
Yellow Springs, OH, Greene County
project director: Julia Reichert
awarded on: 2017-12-08
amount: $10,000
GLOW
An exhibition of eight historic neon road signs of Massachusetts businesses, c. 1927-1970, related research and accompanying panels, and a moderated panel discussion.
Boston, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)
project director: Lucas Cowan
awarded on: 2017-12-08
amount: $10,000
Processing and Making Available Archival Material Related to William Madison Wood
Inventory and make public their William Wood collection of photographs, maps, and publications.
Andover, MA, Essex County (Northeast)
project director: Elaine Clements
awarded on: 2017-11-09
amount: $2,000
Sharon Public Library Newspaper Digitization Project
Digitization of the local Sharon Advocate Newspaper archive and make it available online to patrons.
Sharon, MA, Norfolk County (Southeast)
project director: Lee Ann Amend
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $2,000
Discover Danvers Round-table
Moderated round-table sessions allowing participants to handle historical objects while learning about them and posing their own questions.
Danvers, MA, Essex County (Northeast)
project director: Sheila Cooke-Kayser
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $3,500
STCC Stands Social Justice Forum
A film-and-discussion series-with "Hidden Figure", "I Am Not Your Negro", and "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks"..
Springfield, MA, Hampden County (CT Valley)
project director: Vonetta Lightfoot
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $2,453
Protest and Citizenship in America
A panel discussion and public conversation exploring the history of citizenship and protest in America.
Boston, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)
project director: Gavin Kleespies
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $3,000
Manjiro and the Americans - Unlocking the Mystery of Japan Through the Arts
A project allowing fifth-grade students in New Bedford and Fairhaven to view and discuss a performance about overcoming cultural barriers and the role of exploration and commerce in New Bedford's whaling history.
New Bedford, MA, Bristol County (Southeast)
project director: Joanne Gracia
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $3,100
Central Conversations - Guards at the Taj
Two symposia, one exploring contemporary connections to the history, politics, and meaning of great monuments, and the other exploring dynamics between the disciplines of history and theater.
Cambridge, MA, Middlesex County (Greater Boston)
project director: Debra Wise
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $3,000
Douglas Historical Initiative
Inventory and processing of the Douglas Historical Society's Coppola Collection.
Douglas, MA, Worcester County (Central)
project director: Justin Snook
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $2,000
Susanna Rowson in Medford 1799-1803
Research on and transcription of their Swan Collection of letters, along with two public lectures on the material.
Medford, MA, Middlesex County (Metrowest Boston)
project director: Kyna Hamill
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $3,500
Teens, Bodies, and Identities in Global Literature
A reading-and-discussion series for Boston-area teachers and librarians focusing on global literature about teenagers' relationships with their bodies.
Watertown, MA, Middlesex County (Greater Boston)
project director: Deborah Cunningham
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $3,500
Black Holyoke: Uncovering the History of Black Peoples in Holyoke, MA
Inventory and scanning of Wistariahurst Museum's Holyoke and Carlos Vegas/Latino History Collections in order to provide a searchable documentation of Holyoke's black populations.
Holyoke, MA, Hampden County (CT Valley)
project director: Penni Martorell
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $2,000
Spotlight Symposium Series: "Lonely Planet" and "Statements"
Two post-production moderated conversations around the history of intolerance and how art from the past can bring up questions from the present.
Watertown, MA, Middlesex County (Greater Boston)
project director: Leila Ghaemi
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $3,000
Discussion Event with MA History Teacher of the Year
A moderated discussion with 2017 Mass History Teacher of the Year Kevin Dua and historian Dan Breen addressing the roles of patriotism, freedom, individuality, and collectivism in the United States both historically and in the present.
Somerville, MA, Middlesex County (Greater Boston)
project director: Eileen Schofield
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $1,350