Humanities Grants
Guidelines for Exhibit Projects 2008
These guidelines should be used in conjunction with the application
instructions in the current Humanities Program Guidelines from KHC.
Applicants may apply for support for an exhibit project in either
the Minigrant or Major Grant category. In preparing your
grant application, follow all deadlines and instructions for the
appropriate grant category, plus the additional criteria and requirements
listed below.
Click here to
download these Guidelines for Exhibit Projects 2008.
PURPOSE AND ELIGIBILITY
Interpretive exhibits use artifacts, documents, photographs,
and other objects to inform viewers about human values and experiences.
An interpretive exhibit always includes a written narrative or script
that explains the significance of the visual images and artifacts
presented. The narrative goes beyond mere identification,
connecting the images and objects to a larger theme or story.
Museums, historical societies, arts councils, and other groups
may apply for grants to develop permanent, temporary, or traveling
exhibits. KHC particularly encourages applicants to develop exhibits
which are appropriate for inclusion in KITES,
the Kansas Interpretive Traveling Exhibit Service which KHC sponsors
with the Kansas Museum of History. KITES exhibits should have a
theme of statewide interest and significance, and be designed for
shipping to multiple sites. For more details on criteria for KITES
exhibits, contact Joy Brennan at the Kansas State Historical Society,
785/272-8681.
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CRITERIA FOR FUNDING
KHC funds exhibits whose interpretation is rooted in the
humanities: history, art history, literature, philosophy, women’s
studies, minority studies, and related fields. Humanities
professionals must play a key role in the exhibit project. Scholars
are often asked to assist in one or more of the following ways:
- Meet with exhibit staff to formulate the interpretive
approach to the exhibit;
- Provide consultation to the exhibit staff during
the research and development of the exhibit script;
- Review the script while in draft form for historical
accuracy and humanities content;
- Serve as speakers at public programs held in
conjunction with the exhibit;
- Serve as evaluators of the completed exhibit.
Consult with KHC staff to identify appropriate professionals.
Exhibit projects that do not involve humanities professionals
will not be considered for funding.
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SPECIAL ADDENDUM TO THE GRANT APPLICATION
Exhibit applicants should attach the following to their application,
or incorporate this information into section three of the project
description (schedule of events):
1) A timeline for the production of the exhibit,
showing the approximate time allotted for research, scriptwriting,
production, exhibition time, and public programming
2) An exhibit "walk-through," indicating
the anticipated themes and content of each section of the exhibit.
The walk-through can vary in the level of detail, but should provide
an overview of the anticipated exhibit contents.
3) A short bibliography of the primary and secondary sources
that will be used as the basis for the exhibit script (required
only in the case of projects which involve substantial research
time).
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ITEMS ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING
An exhibit grant may fund any or all of the following:
- Humanities professionals’ honoraria and travel
- Salaries for temporary staff or consultants necessary to carry
out the project, such as interns, researchers, exhibit designers,
and consultants
- Additional hours for permanent part-time staff
- Travel costs associated with research trips to repositories
in Kansas (out-of-state travel cannot be funded)
- The cost of permissions for and reproductions of photographs
to be used in the exhibit
- Typesetting, silkscreening, mounting, framing, and other exhibit
physical needs
- Fabrication expenses, including subcontracts with an exhibit
production company
- Panels, plexiglass, and other materials needed for exhibit mounting
- Installation expenses (not including structural modification
of a building)
- Production of gallery guides or brochures to accompany promotion
of the exhibit, including banners, posters, direct mailings, and
other advertising
- All costs associated with humanities speakers and other public
programs held in conjunction with the exhibit, the costs of packaging
and shipping the exhibit, if multiple sites are involved
- The cost of creating a duplicate of the exhibit for inclusion
in KITES.
In most cases, the exhibit sponsor provides the major hardware
and equipment for mounting the exhibit, such as exhibit cases and
any audiovisual equipment. KHC cannot fund capital expenditures
for slide projectors, VCRs, and other equipment.
Budgets must be both adequate and realistic. KHC encourages multiple
site exhibitions for more expensive temporary exhibits.
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TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
KHC staff assists applicants in the development of exhibit applications.
Staff can respond to specific exhibit ideas and indicate how well
they meet KHC guidelines. KHC will also provide samples of a successful
exhibit grant application on request.
Groups which lack experience in the technical aspects of
exhibit production can receive assistance and consultation from
various sources. Contact Dan
Carey-Whalen, KHC Director of Programs, for suggestions.
Kansas Museums Association
KMA is a membership organization that serves museums in Kansas.
KMA also offers occasional workshops on exhibit development as well
as an annual meeting. The following staff members from KMA member
institutions have special expertise in exhibits. They can answer
basic questions and offer informal consulting by phone at no charge.
If you would like to request a site visit and more indepth assistance,
one of the KMA contacts also offers fee consulting as his schedule
permits.
Greg Walters, Exhibits Director (general consulting)
Sternberg Museum
Fort Hays State University
600 Park St.
Hays KS 67601
785/628-4289
Chuck Regier (general consulting & fee consulting)
Kauffman Museum
Bethel College
North Newton KS 67117
316/283-1612
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