Press Releases

Payne Announces Picturing America Award Recipients

Free National Endowment for the Humanities Education Initiative Brings Great American Art Directly to Classrooms and Libraries

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Donald M. Payne announced today 20 Picturing America awards given by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to schools within New Jersey’s 10th Congressional district. Picturing America is a free initiative that helps teach American history and culture by bringing some of the country’s great art directly to classrooms and libraries.

“Picturing America is a unique program that provides students with a gateway to the entire universe of the humanities,” said Payne.  “By bringing great art into public and private schools, libraries and communities like ours, this program offers Americans of all ages the opportunity to learn about our history in a fresh and engaging way.”

“The Endowment believes that Picturing America should be in every school and public library in the United States.  As a result of our first round of applications, thousands of schools and millions of people all around the country will have the chance to view and learn from this collection in their own communities,” said Bruce Cole, Chairman of the NEH.  “Picturing America helps us understand our democracy by bringing us face to face with the people, places, and events that have shaped our country. It provides an innovative way to experience America’s history through our nation’s art.”

Feedback from local educators currently participating in the nationwide Picturing America pilot program has been tremendous.

In the New Jersey’s 10th district, twenty institutions have been awarded Picturing America.   They join the over 26,000 schools and public libraries across the country that will participate in the program. Successful applicants will receive forty large, high-quality reproductions of great American art and a comprehensive teachers resource book to assist educators using the works of art in core subjects.  Delivery of these materials is scheduled for August 2008.  Additional education resources are also available through the Picturing America Web site ( PicturingAmerica.neh.gov ).

The NEH will offer Picturing America to more schools and libraries through a future enrollment opportunity beginning in August 2008.  All eligible schools and public libraries in the U.S. and its territories who have not previously received Picturing America may apply for the program from August 4 through October 31, 2008 at PicturingAmerica.neh.gov.

In addition to schools and libraries, through an interagency agreement, NEH and the Administration for Children and Families within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will work together to make Picturing America available to the 20,000 Head Start centers around the nation.  This partnership will provide for the development of materials to supplement Picturing America and ensure that the program will enhance early childhood development and family literacy.

Picturing America is distributed by the NEH in cooperation with the American Library Association (ALA).

For information about the ALA, please visit www.ala.org/.

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About Picturing America

Public, private, parochial, and charter and home school consortia (K-12), as well as public libraries in the US and its territories, are eligible to receive Picturing America materials.  Interested schools and public libraries will be able to apply through the NEH for the second round of Picturing America awards, beginning August 4 through October 31, 2008 for receipt of the materials in spring 2009.  Detailed instructions for submitting an application can be found in the ‘Apply Now’ section of the Picturing America Web site, PicturingAmerica.neh.gov.

Picturing America comes with a comprehensive package of materials that includes:

• Forty large, high-quality color reproductions of the selected masterpieces (24” x 36”)
• A comprehensive teachers resource book providing a wide range of ideas and background information to support educators using the works of art in core subject areas
• Additional resources and lesson plans available through the Picturing America Web site, PicturingAmerica.neh.gov

About the National Endowment for the Humanities

The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent grant-making agency of the United States government dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities.  The study of the humanities — history, literature, philosophy, and the arts — helps us explore what it means to be human.  The humanities enable us to understand the world and our place in it.

Because “democracy demands wisdom,” NEH serves and strengthens our Republic through promoting excellence in the humanities and conveying the lessons of history to all Americans.  Through its programs, NEH provides opportunities for all citizens to embrace the humanities and benefit from their wisdom.  For more information about NEH, visit www.neh.gov/.

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