Funding is provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
Philadelphia, Pa (January 2022) – PHILADELPHIA250 has received a $14,000 grant from PA Humanities as part of the agency’s $1.4 million recovery and growth program.
Called PA SHARP, for Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan, the initiative provides flexible funding to strengthen and grow humanities across the state.
This flexible funding with an exact amount of $13,947, will support the development of PHILADELPHIA250’s SPARK! Conversation Cards, a series of 250 conversation starter cards to spark meaningful discussions around four contemporary themes inspired by the Declaration of Independence: Shared Prosperity, Pursuit of Happiness, Revolutionary Actions and People’s Histories. These four pillars frame PHILADELPHIA250’s ideas and actions to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States in Philadelphia. SPARK! Conversation Cards are among a continuum of resources that PHILADELPHIA250 is developing for all audiences to participate meaningfully in the lead-up to 2026.
“The humanities are on the ground putting people first by making spaces for new voices, supporting meaningful learning experiences and fostering healing and resiliency in communities of all sizes,” said Laurie Zierer, executive director of PA Humanities. “PA SHARP further strengthens this essential work through network building, financial support and reimagining the possibilities of humanities across the state.”
The 92 SHARP grant recipients, representing museums, libraries, historical societies and other vital cultural institutions across Pennsylvania, were selected with an emphasis on equity and geographic diversity.
Funds from PA SHARP aim to help address the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on the cultural sector by supporting creative programming, capacity building and general operations. In addition to funding, the PA SHARP Learning Network will build a statewide community of people passionate about creative inclusive, engaged communities that are ready to lead the statewide recovery alongside PA Humanities.
Funding for PA SHARP comes from PA Humanities’ federal partner, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Recognizing the financial realities of the pandemic and the vital importance of the humanities to economic and civic life, this legislation allocated to the NEH funds to “prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from the coronavirus.”
Additional funding comes from Spring Point Partners to support 16 organizations that serve Philadelphia’s BIPOC and new immigrant communities.
The full list of PA SHARP grantees is available at pahumantities.org/pasharp.
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