Iroquois Museum Opens 2020 Season with Identity/Identify 

Who is Haudenosaunee?  Who is not, and who gets to decide? These are the questions at the center of a thought-provoking new exhibit in the Iroquois Museum's main gallery. Praised as “quite timely” by the Oneida Trust & Enrollment Department in Wisconsin, Identity/Identify presents individual and collaborative artistic responses from across Iroquois Country that speak to these issues. The exhibit explores how definitions and designations of membership determine access to tribal and federal resources, rights, residency options, and other components of cultural and community participation.

Artwork from the Iroquois Museum's collection and work created specifically for the exhibit will address the political, often polarizing, issues surrounding blood quantum standards; the position and challenges of mixed race individuals; those whose connections to heritage are through their father's (rather than mother’s) lines; and those who grew up off reservation. 

The exhibit features video, sculpture, beadwork, mosaic, painting, and photography by Peter Jones, Hayden Haynes, and Michael Jones from Seneca territory; Margaret Jacobs, Natasha Smoke Santiago, and Ionawiienhawi Sargent from Akwesasne; Brenda Hill, Rick Hill, and Robert D’Alimonte from Tuscarora; Karen Ann Hoffman from Oneida, Wisconsin; Tahatie Montour, Angel Horn, and Danielle Soames from Kahnawake; Andrea Chrisjohn from Kingston, NY; Shelia Escobar and Lance Hodahkwen from Syracuse; Rosy Simas from Minneapolis; Ric Glazer Danay from California; and Melanie Printup Hope from Toronto. Identity/Identify runs through November 29, 2020 with an opening reception on May 2 with special guest writer and playwright Drew Hayden Taylor.  Curated by the Iroquois Museum with project consultants Andrea Chrisjohn and Melanie Printup Hope. 

The Iroquois Museum is located 40 miles west of Albany in Howes Cave, NY.  For hours and additional information, visit https://www.iroquoismuseum.org/2019-feature-exhibition or call 518.296.8949.

 Identity/Identify is made possible in part with support from Poets & Writers and a Humanities NY Action grant. 

Sharing Women's History in the Hudson Valley

Eleanor Roosevelt holding a press conference. Eleanor Roosevelt was the first First Lady to hold a press conference. By the end, she had held 348 press conferences as First Lady! NPS Photo As the 2020 centennial of the 19th Amendment approaches, the National Park Service is preparing to commemorate the story of the struggle for women’s suffrage nationwide. This story is complex and interwoven with issues of civil and political rights for all Americans. We are holding an event to explore how historic sites and cultural organizations within and around the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area can work together to share the many facets of this multi-layered story with the public.  Hike to from New York City to Albany, New York led by suffragist leader, "General" Rosalie Jones [January 1, 1914]. Photo: George Grantham Bain Collection, Library of Congress. Convene local partners within and adjacent to the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area (HURV) to share commemoration plans and facilitate collaboration. Create a richer narrative of suffrage history within the region by weaving together sites that represent different parts of the story. Share National Park Service resources and projects available for partner use.

Please RSVP for the event! To RSVP, contact Rebecca Flemer at rebecca_flemer@partner.nps.gov or call (267) 670-1338. Please let us know your phone number, any dietary restrictions and how you heard about the event. Learn more: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/womenshistory/19th-amendment.htm

Since 2016, the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) in Washington, D.C., has galvanized more than 1,500 cultural institutions from seven continents and 50 countries with the award-winning #5WomenArtists social media campaign. Through #5WomenArtists during Women’s History Month, NMWA aims to help the public answer—without hesitation—“Can you name five women artists?”

Join us in March on social media using #5WomenArtists to share important contributions by women in their collections or exhibitions. If they’re interested, we’d like them to submit their information to this survey:  https://forms.gle/p5vAMTumFDQm95ES7 to participate in #5WomenArtists and stay up-to-date on news and events related to the campaign.

Learn more about #5WomenArtists: https://nmwa.org/5WomenArtists

William G. Pomeroy Foundation Opens New Grant Round for NYS Marker Program

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The next grant round of the William G. Pomeroy Foundation’s New York State Historic Marker Grant Program officially opens today, Monday, Feb. 3.

This roadside marker program commemorates historic people, places, things or events in New York State within the time frame of 1740-1920. Grants cover the entire cost of a marker, pole and shipping.

This grant round covers the following counties: Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Schuyler, Tioga and Tompkins (Region 10); Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates (Region 11); and Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming (Region 12).

The NYS Historic Marker Grant Program is open to local, state and federal government entities, nonprofit academic institutions and 501(c)(3) organizations in New York State. Often, municipal historians or local historical organizations (or related nonprofits) will apply for a marker on behalf of a property owner.

Those interested in applying for a marker grant should submit an online Letter of Intent to verify primary sources by Monday, March 2, 2020. Primary source documentation is necessary to support the text on a marker. The final application deadline is Monday, April 6, 2020. To apply for a grant or review application guidelines, visit the Foundation’s NYS marker program page. A complete grant schedule by region is also on the Foundation’s website.

Additional Pomeroy Foundation marker programs include the Legends & Lore® Marker Grant Program, Historic Transportation Canals Marker Grant Program, National Register Signage Grant Program and National Women’s Suffrage Marker Program. The Foundation’s website also features an interactive, digital map with listings of current markers and plaques.

About the Pomeroy Foundation

The William G. Pomeroy Foundation® is a private, grant-making foundation established in 2005. The Foundation is committed to supporting the celebration and preservation of community history; and to raising awareness, supporting research and improving the quality of care for patients and their families who are facing a blood cancer diagnosis. Since 2006, the Foundation has funded nearly 1,000 historic roadside markers and plaques nationwide. Grants cover the cost of a marker, pole and shipping. Visit: www.wgpfoundation.org

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Media Inquires

Steve Bodnar
Communications Manager
William G. Pomeroy Foundation
(315) 913-4068

The NYSCA/GHHN Creativity Incubator Grant Program provides NYS museums with financial support (up to $5,000 each) to experiment with and/or implement ideas inspired by the spirit of the Creativity Incubator workshops, held from 2017-2019. 

For the past three years the "Creativity Incubator," a partnership between the Greater Hudson Heritage Network (GHHN) and the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Museum Program, has offered "creativity labs" in seven different museums across New York State. With the goal of encouraging museums to think more imaginatively about the interpretation of their collections and to explore new ways to engage with contemporary audiences, these labs were an opportunity to brainstorm ideas using an actual collection or space. Based on feedback from those participants, GHHN and NYSCA are now offering funding to help empower museums to make change. This could involve testing out ideas, partnering with other Creativity Incubator participants to explore new approaches, or for those who are ready - to implement. We anticipate funding at least seven grants at a maximum of $5,000 each in multiple regions of New York State. No match is required.

Priority* will be given to participants from one of the seven Creativity Incubator sessions, held from 2017-2019. 

The project may only occur between March 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020.

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Applications will be accepted online until 2/15/2020. 

There are two ways to apply for the Creativity Incubator grant - through a written narrative or a maximum 4-minute video. You may select either method - there is no benefit to selecting one over the other. Regardless of the method you choose, you will need to answer all the application questions. Both methods also require you to fill out the organization questionnaire (contact information, EIN number, operating budget, etc.) and accept that the amount awarded is $5,000.

You will need to answer the following questions:

1. What problem are you trying to solve? 

(Hint: this should be able to be explained in one or two sentences).

2. What do you plan to do?

3. What questions do you want to explore?

4. How is your approach creative and different? Has anyone tried it before?

5. Do you face any challenges in being creative?

6. Who will work on this and what is their background?

Remember, if you are submitting a video application, your 4-minute video must answer all the questions above however you choose to visualize it.

For the guidelines and more information, please visit: 

www.greaterhudson.org/nyscaghhn-creativity-incubator-grant.html

Deadline: EXTENDED to Friday, March 17, 2020, 4:00 PM

New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), in connection with the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, is seeking proposals from parties interested in conceptualizing and operating an approximately 15,000 SF cultural center (the “Cultural Education Center”) and an approximately 18,000 SF public outdoor memorial (the “Outdoor Memorial”) honoring the lives and contributions of freed and enslaved Africans in East Harlem. 

The Outdoor Memorial will be located at the historical site of the Harlem African Burial Ground, and the Cultural Education Center will be sited adjacent to the Outdoor Memorial. Both the Cultural Education Center and Outdoor Memorial will be located at Manhattan Block 1803 Lot 1, also identified as 2460 Second Avenue (the “Site”). The Cultural Education Center and Outdoor Memorial are expected to be built as a part of the future mixed-use redevelopment of the Site, referred to as the E126th Street Redevelopment Project (the “Project”).

NYCEDC plans to designate an operator for the Cultural Education Center and Outdoor Memorial to participate in the Project on the basis of factors stated in the RFEI which include, but are not limited to: the quality of the proposal, experience of key staff identified in the proposal, demonstrated successful experience in performing services similar to those encompassed in the RFEI, and the financial capacity of the respondent.

It is the policy of NYCEDC to comply with all federal, state and City laws and regulations which prohibit unlawful discrimination because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status and other protected category and to take affirmative action in working with contracting parties to ensure certified Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) share in the economic opportunities generated by NYCEDC’s projects and initiatives.

Inquiries

Optional informational sessions will be held at 12pm at NYCEDC and at 6:30pm at The Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College on Thursday, November 7, 2019. Those who wish to attend either session should RSVP by email to HABG_RFEI@edc.nyc on or before October 31, 2019. 

Respondents may submit questions and/or request clarifications from NYCEDC no later than 5pm on Friday, January 17, 2020. Questions regarding the subject matter of this RFP should be directed to HABG_RFEI@edc.nyc. For all questions that do not pertain to the subject matter of this RFEI please contact NYCEDC’s Contracts Hotline at (212) 312-3969. Answers to all questions will be posted by Thursday, January 23, 2020, to edc.nyc/rfps.

Submission Requirements

Detailed submission guidelines and requirements are outlined in the RFEI, available as of Monday, October 21, 2019. The RFEI is available for in-person pick-up between 9:30am and 4:30pm, Monday through Friday, from NYCEDC, One Liberty Plaza, 165 Broadway, 14th floor, New York, NY 10006. To download a copy of the solicitation documents please visit edc.nyc/rfps. Submissions will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis beginning 4pm on Monday, January 6, 2020.

Deadline: EXTENDED to Friday, March 17, 2020, 4:00 PM

 Please submit five (5) sets of your expression and one (1) digital copy USB flash drive of your expression of interest to:

NYCEDC, One Liberty Plaza, 165 Broadway, New York, NY 10006
Attention: Maryann Catalano, Chief Contracting Officer, Contracts.

2020 NYCMER Annual Conference:  ENGAGE! Monday, May 11, 2020 Teachers College, Columbia University   Call for Proposals Due January 27, 2020, 11:59pm   As we enter a new decade, the New York City Museum Educators Roundtable invites presenters to explore ways in which we can grow our institutions and programming with a focus on engagement both inside and out. The museum field is in a moment of immense progress and change – internally, in the public-facing realm, and through our collaborations. With calls for accountability, transparency, equity, and increased access, it is apparent that communication and engagement in all facets of our work is integral to the growth and betterment of our institutions. Proposals for this year’s conference should examine how we interact, participate, and collaborate with our audiences, colleagues, internal stakeholders, and/or professional networks. The topic of ENGAGE! can be approached from a theoretical or practical perspective, and can include existing methods and best practices or ideas for the future. The Conference Committee is interested in breakout session, poster and case study proposals that represent the interests of institutions varying in size and discipline, and museum education professionals at all career stages. Breakout session proposals should include interactive, practical, and replicable content, which can support educators’ professional development and skill-building. How to Apply Review the call for proposals, use the templates to help you plan your proposal (links provided within the call for proposals), and then submit your proposal via the 2020 NYCMER Annual Conference submission form, by January 27, 2020, 11:59pm. Looking for help or inspiration? Join us for Conference #Winning - How to Survive and Thrive, a NYCMER monthly program, on January 13, at Teachers College. There, you can meet the NYCMER VP, get help applying, think about how you can brand yourself, practice networking with colleagues, and learn how you can continue the conversation after the conference. For registration and more information, click here. If you have a session idea in mind, but would like to partner with other museum professionals on your proposal, the NYCMER Vice President, Brian Levine, may be able to help. Email him directly at vicepresident@nycmer.org.  About NYCMER: Since 1979, the New York City Museum Educators Roundtable has provided a platform for museum educators to come together and discuss matters important to the field. Through ongoing workshops, gatherings, and annual conferences, NYCMER provides museum educators with a community space to explore, exchange, and implement ideas in our growing profession.     We invite you to join us at NYCMER’s 2020 Annual Conference, to be held on Monday, May 11, 2020 at Teachers College, Columbia University! Interact with peers and take part in a wide array of panel discussions, workshops, and other professional development opportunities.   The 2020 NYCMER Annual Conference is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Applications are now available for the 2020 cycle of the Preserve New York Grant Program. This program is a partnership between the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the Preservation League of New York State. We also are thrilled to have generous additional support from The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation for projects occurring in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The Preserve New York grant program is made possible through the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Preserve New York is open to 501c3 nonprofits and municipalities who steward historic buildings, or who are looking to do broad community preservation planning projects. Preserve New York generally funds between $3,000 and $10,000. Applicants are required to contribute at least a 20% cash match toward the total cost of the project. Eligible project types include:

• Building Condition Reports
• Historic Structure Reports
• Cultural Landscape Reports
• Cultural Resource Surveys

As you can see, these projects are all preservation planning studies. We do not offer funds for bricks and mortar projects. Thorough explanations of these project types as well as examples of previously funded projects are available on our website.

 

For your convenience and information, we have several workshops and one webinar coming up shortly about the Preserve New York program and other aspects of historic preservation in New York State:

https://www.preservenys.org/public-presentations

 

These workshops and webinar are a chance to learn important information about how to apply, frequently asked questions, and see examples of successful previous projects. Here’s the schedule at a glance:

 

• January 23^rd, 2020: Binghamton
• January 30^th, 2020: Elmira
• February 3^rd, 2020: Webinar – available anywhere!
• February 24^th, 2020: Hornell

 

Please visit the link above if you’d like to register to participate in one of these presentations. We look forward to having you join us!

 

Guidelines for the Preserve New York program are also available on our website, but a PDF copy is attached to this here for your convenience. Please feel free to disseminate this information far and wide within your circles; we would love to speak with your friends and colleagues about potential projects.

 

This year, in order to apply, interested applicants are being asked to fill out the Preserve New York Application: Part I on our website whereas before, interested applicants were asked to call the League. Now you can fill out the Part I application and send it in any time you’d like! This form will help League staff to determine eligibility for the program and answer any questions you might have/provide some technical assistance on the process. After submitting Part I, you will hear from League staff about next steps for your project and receive Part II of the application form (along with instructions) if you are deemed eligible.

Please let us know if you have any questions by emailing grants@preservenys.org

Here at the National Museum of American History we’re embarking on a new strategic planning process. In order to do that we’re reaching out to nationwide to get the word out about this work. Our hope is that the National Museum of American History can become a vibrant and sustainable American history museum for the whole nation. In order for that to happen, we need to hear from the American people across the country so we know how to best create the path forward.  

What does it mean to be a physical museum in a digital world?

What role does a history museum have in the future, let alone the National Museum of American History?

How can we be more meaningful to everyday Americans?

These are just a few of the many questions that we are grappling with and inviting our stakeholders and the public at large to participate in and help us as we seek to transform *your* museum. 

We hope that you will share your voice with us and come along on this important journey.

To access the survey, you can visit http://s.si.edu/YourOpinionMatters  

It’s also vitally important that you share the survey out so it can reach the most people possible across the country. We would appreciate it if you could share the survey out to your audiences and on your social media with the attached image and this (or similar) text:  

Help the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History by taking this brief survey to share what you’d like to see from *your* National Museum. https://s.si.edu/YourOpinionMatters 

The survey is also fully available in Spanish at the link https://s.si.edu/TuOpiniónImporta

 

The survey closes at the end of January, though we are considering extending it for longer to meet our goals.

31 Humanities Grants Awarded Across NYS for Public Programs on Women’s Suffrage, African-American History, Indigenous Issues, and More

NEW YORK CITY, NY (January 16th, 2020) – Humanities New York (HNY) today has announced $150,000 in awards to 31 grantees for innovative public humanities offerings. Awards were made in every region of the state, from the North Country to Long Island. 

“To know the humanities one has to experience them personally,” said Executive Director Sara Ogger. “The awarded programs directly engage participants in compelling topics, and ultimately, with each other. In-person opportunities seem rare in today’s climate, but look at what local libraries and museums and service providers are doing every day–HNY strives to give them the investment they need to really go.”

These grants are made possible entirely through the National Endowment for the Humanities, a Federal agency funded through legislation by the United States Congress. Previous years have included New York State funding.

Action Grants to community presenters enable New Yorkers to reflect on their values and engage with others in their communities. Grant recipients creatively use history, philosophy, literature, and other tools of the humanities to respond to issues and ideas that capture the imagination and passion of New Yorkers today. Focusing on relevant and timely topics, these grant projects give New Yorkers the opportunity to discuss what matters.  

Over ten of the grants will provide funding for the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment in 2020. In Western New York, Lockport Public Arts Council will consider the struggles, sacrifices, and strategies that went into the Amendment’s passage. In the Mid-Hudson region, Putnam History Museum will explore the local history of women’s suffrage, tracing its links to the national movement. On Staten Island, Friends of Alice Austen House will present an exhibition on the 1983 landmark press photo series of Audre Lorde by Robert Alexander, exploring the implications of the series for both the women’s movement and Lorde’s legacy.

Several grants went to organizations offering programs on African-American and African Diaspora history.In the Finger Lakes region, The History Center in Tompkins County will explore the legacy of civil rights icon Dorothy Cotton and the movement’s other, less heralded women of color. In New York City, Haiti Cultural Exchange will host a conversation series on socio-political issues facing Haiti today and what these issues mean for the Haitian Diaspora. 

Two grants promote the understanding of indigenous history and contemporary indigenous culture in New York State. In the Mohawk Valley, the Iroquois Indian Museum will examine issues relating to Haudenosaunee/Iroquois identity, including tribal enrollment, blood quantum, and residency. On Long Island, The Whaling Museum and Education Center in Cold Spring Harbor will explore the cultural significance of whales for the Shinnecock people, past and present.

 

Complete list of 2020 Grantees, sortable by region.

 

About Humanities New York:

The mission of Humanities New York is to strengthen civil society and the bonds of community, using the humanities to foster engaged inquiry and dialogue around social and cultural concerns. Established in 1975 as the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Humanities New York is a private 501(c)3 that receives Federal, State, regional, and private funding. 

 

Visit Humanities New York online:

https://humanitiesny.org

https://instagram.com/humanitiesny

https://twitter.com/humanitiesny