Library of Congress - Of the People: Widening the Path: Community Collections grant to Individuals

Through a gift from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Library will support a multiyear initiative the entails public participation in the creation of archival collections. Specifically, the Library of Congress seeks to award grants to support contemporary cultural documentation focusing on the culture and traditions of diverse, often underrepresented communities in the United States. These projects will result in archival collections preserved at the American Folklife Center and made accessible through the Library of Congress’ web site. The major goals of this grant program are to enable communities to document their cultural life and experiences from their own perspectives, while enriching the Library’s holdings with diverse materials featuring creativity and knowledge found at the local level. As such, successful applications will come from individuals closely affiliated with the community they propose to document.

Funding through these grants can be used to cover travel, equipment rental or purchase, and other expenses associated with cultural documentation fieldwork. American Folklife Center folklorists and archivists may assist successful applicants in providing support for specific aspects of cultural documentation activities, such as sharing expertise or training in fieldwork methods, archival practices, and associated digital technologies. Library staff may also be available to provide technical advice, and work with successful applicants to facilitate a cohort for sharing knowledge and lessons learned. Successful applicants may develop public programs in their home communities connected to their projects. The American Folklife Center is seeking to build long-term relationships with grantees and to give grantees the opportunity to present their work in a forum at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.

Miscellaneous

• Individuals