When downstate New York was hit hard by Superstorm Sandy late last month many of the state’s cultural organizations sustained major damage: libraries lost collections, historic sites were compromised, and museums were forced to close their doors for extensive clean up. To assist in the recovery efforts for these important community assets, the New York Council for the Humanities is offering grants of up to $1,500 to defray costs for staff, paid workers & volunteers working on storm related clean up.
About
Update: As of December 18, 2012, Cultural organizations damaged by Superstorm Sandy just got a new recovery opportunity thanks to a collaboration between the New York Council for the Humanities and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation of New York. The first set of quick-grants made by the Council (30 at $1,000) were offered just weeks after the storm in support of staff hours dedicated to clean-up efforts, and were funded by a special Chairman's grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The timely addition of an Officer's Grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation will now double the number of different organizations receiving grants and increase the size of the grants to $1,500 apiece. (Organizations that already received their grant from the Council, including the Seaport Museum and City Opera in Lower Manhattan, the East Rockaway Public Library, and the Alice Austen historic house in Staten Island, will now get an additional $500 check in the mail out of the Mellon’s additional funds).
Eligibility
Any New York State cultural group whose sites or collections were damaged by Sandy is eligible to apply. “We have chosen this focus because we know that the most valuable resource these organizations have is their dedicated staff members.” says Executive Director, Sara Ogger. “Moreover, while insurance and FEMA funds can cover direct hurricane damage, and volunteers are stepping up to provide manpower, the professional staff members of these organizations will have to put in many extra hours to oversee the clean-up and reopening of their institutions.” Organizations that have already received Council grant support in 2012 may also apply.
How to Apply
Applications for these special grants will be accepted on a rolling basis until February 28, 2013 with notification within four weeks of the receipt of an application. If your site was damaged by the storm, click here [2] to submit an application form.
