Media Projects

The Media Projects program supports documentary film, television, radio, and podcast projects that engage general audiences with humanities ideas in creative and appealing ways. All projects must be grounded in humanities scholarship in disciplines such as history, art history, film studies, literature, religious studies, philosophy, or anthropology. Projects must also demonstrate an approach that is thoughtful, balanced, and analytical. The approach to the subject matter must go beyond the mere presentation of factual information to explore its larger significance and stimulate reflection. NEH is a national funding agency, so the projects that we support must demonstrate the potential to attract a broad general audience. Film and television projects may be single programs or a series addressing significant figures, events, or ideas. Programs may be intended for regional or national distribution, via traditional carriage or online distribution. The Division of Public Programs welcomes projects that range in length from short-form to broadcast-length video. The Division of Public Programs encourages film and television projects that promote a deeper understanding of American history and culture and advance civics education. The Division of Public Programs also supports film and television projects that examine international themes and subjects in the humanities. Radio and podcast projects may involve single programs, limited series, or segments within an ongoing series. Programs receiving production grants may be either broadcast or disseminated online. They may be intended for national or regional distribution. NEH encourages projects that engage public audiences through multiple formats. Proposed projects might include supplementary components to a film, television, radio, or podcast project: for example, book/film discussion programs, supplemental educational websites, or museum exhibitions. Development grants ($40,000 to $75,000) enable media producers to collaborate with scholars to develop humanities content and to prepare programs for production. Awards should result in a script (for documentary film and television programs) or detailed treatment(s) (for radio programs and podcasts). They may also yield a detailed plan for outreach and public engagement in collaboration with a partner organization or organizations. Production grants (up to $650,000) support the production and distribution of documentary films, television programs, radio programs, and podcasts.