For over 40 years, the Forum has invested in Alaska cultural, civic, and historic organizations, artists, writers, historians, filmmakers, and community conveners. This funding fuels creative projects that share and preserve the stories of people across the state and explore what it means to be Alaskan. The Forum’s annual grants support innovative, independent projects that engage, inform, and connect people across Alaska through the humanities.

If you are interested in being updated on Forum Grant opportunities in the future, please fill out the contact form below.

SHARP Operational Grants

Now closed. See who was awarded a SHARP Grant!
As Alaska’s state humanities council, the Alaska Humanities Forum is honored to distribute and administer funds allocated to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as a means of Supporting the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP).

Funding was made available in an effort to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from COVID-19. The Forum will manage Alaska’s share of the funds directed to the 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils to assist affected cultural nonprofit institutions and organizations across our state. Applicants must clearly demonstrate that their initiative is undertaken to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from the coronavirus.

• Eligible applicants include Alaska nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, accredited public and 501(c)(3) institutions of higher education, and federally recognized tribal organizations.
• Organizations must have a demonstrated commitment to public humanities and/or cultural or civic programming – including, but not limited to, historical societies, libraries, cultural centers, literary groups, museums, educational organizations, historical preservation groups, and media groups that report on culture.
• Other factors related to accomplishing the mission of the Alaska Humanities Forum will also be considered as part of decision making, including geographic and cultural diversity, increasing equity and inclusion, as well as reaching communities that currently or historically have been underserved with humanities programming.
• Funds may be used to cover general operating costs (e.g., rent and facility expenses, utilities, staffing) related to preparing for, responding to, and recovering from the coronavirus.
• Funding will not be given to organizations whose mission falls outside of the humanities and the humanistic social sciences, including the creation or performance of art; creative writing, autobiographies, memoirs, and creative nonfiction; and quantitative social science research or policy studies.
• Organizations that have already received CARES Act funding from the Forum or an annual grant in 2021 are eligible for this additional funding.
  

Past grant projects funded by the Alaska Humanities Forum have represented a wide range of perspectives, media, genres, and stories from across the state. The gallery below contains a selection of past projects.