Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 6, 2006
Contact: Scott Stevens (207) 363-4974 director@oldyork.org
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES AWARDS FUNDS AND SPECIAL STATUS TO OLD YORK
York, Maine - The Old York Historical Society has been awarded a very prestigious and much-sought grant by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Challenge Grant of $500,000, which Old York must match 3:1 with other donations, will help the Society construct a heritage education and exhibition center, endow its operation, and develop new programs using the facility. These projects are part of Old York's $2.8 million capital fundraising effort, the Heritage Campaign.
In addition to the grant, Old York's effort was named a We the People project, a special recognition by the NEH for model projects that advance the study, teaching, and understanding of American history and culture.
"The grant represents a big piece of our goal, and a stimulus to help us raise the rest" said Executive Director Scott Stevens. "Gifts from individuals, businesses, and foundations will now help secure further dollars from NEH."
Stevens continued: "Designation as a We the People project is deeply gratifying. It acknowledges the significance of Old York's historic buildings, artifacts, and archives not just to our community, but also to our nation. I am proud that education programs planned and presented by my colleagues would be held up as models by the NEH."
The NEH receives thousands of applications annually for Challenge Grants, and awards a small percentage of applicants with major support. Throughout the year, humanities experts outside of the Endowment and members of the National Council on the Humanities consider all applications and advise NEH on the quality and significance of each proposed project.
"The humanities convey important stories of our world, and today's NEH grant recipients are deeply engaged in advancing those stories through new scholarly research, new educational resources, increased efforts to preserve our cultural heritage, and new public programs that engage our minds and broaden our understanding of human history," said NEH Chairman Bruce Cole. "NEH supports projects that are rigorous, wide-ranging, and substantial in their examination and illumination of the great events and great ideas of the past in our own nation and throughout the world."
Old York will celebrate the NEH grant and the opening of its museums for the summer season with special activities Saturday, June 10 from 2 to 5 PM. The public is invited to attend.
For more information about the Museums of Old York and Old York's Heritage Campaign, contact Old York at (207) 363-4974 or visit its web site at www.oldyork.org
Visit the website for the National Endowment for the Humanities for more information.