Press Release

(Oklahoma City, OK – August 16, 2021) Oklahoma Humanities (OH) is proud to report that almost $700,000 in American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act funding will be distributed to over 50 cultural and educational organizations statewide. Grants were awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants and will fund general operating expenses at museums, archives, historic sites, and other nonprofits recovering from the pandemic.

Funding for these grants was supported by $135 million in supplemental funding allocated to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. OH is responsible for the distribution of federal funding allocated to the state of Oklahoma from the NEH Federal and State Partnership Division.

The ARP funding follows OH’s distribution of CARES Act funding in 2020, when NEH distributed awards to the state and jurisdictional humanities councils that serve the needs of states and local communities. OH CARES grants allowed cultural institutions to retain humanities jobs, continue operations, and shift programs and resources online at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. See a list of our CARES awards here.

“The pandemic’s economic ramifications for our cultural institutions and their employees have been severe,” said OH Executive Director Caroline Lowery. “Museums, libraries, archives, and historic sites across Oklahoma have experienced layoffs, extended closures, and revenue losses. The Oklahoma Humanities Staff and Board have diligently worked to distribute this much-needed American Rescue Plan relief funding efficiently and equitably across Oklahoma.”

A full list of awarded organizations, including award amounts, is available here.

Questions about this grant program should be directed to Senior Program Officer Kelly Burns at kelly@okhumanities.org.

Media inquiries may be directed to Executive Director Caroline Lowery at caroline@okhumanities.org.

About Oklahoma Humanities:

Oklahoma Humanities (OH) is an independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen communities by helping Oklahomans learn about the human experience, understand new perspectives, and participate knowledgeably in civic life. As the state partner for the National Endowment for the Humanities, OH provides a free educational magazine, Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibits, reading and discussion groups, and other cultural opportunities for Oklahomans of all ages. OH engages people in their own communities, stimulating discussion and helping them explore the wider world of human experience, through humanities disciplines such as history, literature, film studies, ethics, and philosophy.