HNY awards Reading & Discussion (R&D) Grants to organizations seeking to engage communities through a series of text-based, group discussions. Through the exploration of texts with a trained local scholar, participants have the opportunity to deeply consider topics and issues of relevance. Organizations may choose from themes curated by Humanities New York or propose their own via the Community–Developed Track option.
Eligibility:
- Tax-exempt organizations (e.g. non-profits, municipalities, native nations or tribal governments);
- Based in and serving New York State.
Application Requirements:
- Application submitted via the HNY grant portal, Salesforce;
- Facilitator’s resume or CV;
- Draft budget outlining expenses and matching funds;
- For applicants developing their own themes: a syllabus or reading list.
CC BY–SA 3.0 by Allan warren
HNY–curated theme James Baldwin’s America is a perennial favorite among applicants. Since 2018, the R&D group has been hosted 43 times across the state. Comprising two volumes spanning fiction and non-fiction, essays and autobiography, the program provides both an entry point and an opportunity for countless New Yorkers to connect with one another other a shared interest in the great American author.
Additional Documents
Additional information on HNY–curated themes and the Community–Developed Track are available for download. To receive documents that also include information on eligibility, requirements, deadlines, budget, and project team members’ qualifications, email [email protected]
As of February, 2025, all HNY Grant opportunities are currently paused. The next round of applications is tentatively scheduled to open on July 14, for programs taking place in Fall of the same year. For additional questions, email R&D program officer Rachel Pitkin at [email protected]
In the Fall of 2024, Ma’s House—an art studio based on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation—hosted Contemporary Native American Authors, a Community–Developed Theme. Led by Shinnecock artist, beader, and Haygrond School Teacher Tohanash Tarrant, the program engaged participants in wide–ranging and fruitful conversations stemming from selected texts over a series of well attended monthly meet–ups.
