New Round of Funding for Connecting Communities Digital Initiative: Applications Open!

The Library of Congress is pleased to open applications for a new round of funding in the Connecting Communities Digital Initiative award program. These awards will support Artists/Scholars, Libraries, Archives, Museums and Higher Education institutions to create projects that use the Library’s digital collections and that center one or more of the following groups: Black, Indigenous, Hispanic or Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and/or other communities of color. This program is part of the larger Of the People: Widening the Path initiative funded by the Mellon Foundation that creates dynamic opportunities for more people to engage with the Library.

Formal Notices of Funding Opportunity for artists/scholars, libraries, archives, museums and higher education institutions can be found at the Of the People website and on Grants.gov (Notice for Artists/Scholars, Notice for Higher Education Institutions, and Notice for Libraries, Archives, Museums).

Applications for the Artists/Scholars-in-Residence awards are due by August 7, 2023 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time.

The Library intends to select up to two Artists/Scholars-in-Residence. We will award up to $90,000 each and will support projects of up to 12 months in length.

Support materials for applicants can be found on the application page for the Artists/Scholars-in-Residence award, and will be updated as more resources become available.

Applications for the Library, Archives, Museums and Higher Education awards are due by September 7, 2023 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time

The Library intends to select up to three Libraries, Archives, Museums and up to three Higher Education institutions. We will award up to $70,000 each and will support projects of up to 12 months in length.

Support materials for applicants can be found on the application pages for Libraries, Archives, Museums and for Higher Education Institutions, and will be updated as more resources become available.

New Optional Review for Higher Education and Libraries, Archives, Museums Applicants

We are happy to offer an optional review of draft proposal narratives for Higher Education and Libraries, Archives, and Museums applicants. By reviewing draft proposal narratives, the Library can alert applicants if their projects do not align with one, some, or all of the evaluation criteria. Applicants can use the feedback to strengthen their final submissions or determine if the award is a good fit. Please note that this optional review is not part of the formal selection process and will have no bearing on the final award selection.

Draft proposal narratives must be submitted by June 30, 2023 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. Feedback on draft proposal narratives will shared by July 30, 2023 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time.

Pre-Recorded Informational Webinars

Staff from the Connecting Communities Digital Initiative team have pre-recorded informational webinars about each opportunity. They are available now at these links:

• Artists/Scholars-in-Residence webinar video: loc.gov/programs/of-the-people/represent/artist-scholar-in-residence/
• Higher Education webinar video: loc.gov/programs/of-the-people/represent/higher-education-application/
• Libraries, Archives Museums webinar video: loc.gov/programs/of-the-people/represent/libraries-archives-museums-application/

Live Q&As

Staff from the Connecting Communities Digital Initiative team are also hosting live Q&As. We invite you to register and join the Q&A sessions to ask questions and learn more!

• • Artists/Scholars-in-Residence Q&A webinar: Thursday, June 1, 2023: 3pm-4pm EST, noon PST (Registration link)
  • Higher Education Q&A webinar: Wednesday, June 7, 2023: 3pm-4pm EST, noon PST (Registration link)
  • Libraries, Archives, Museums Q&A webinar: Thursday, June 8, 2023: 3pm-4pm EST, noon PST (Registration link)

An earlier version of this blog post included an incorrect link to the Artist/Scholar in Residence application page.

CCDI is part of the Library’s Of the People: Widening the Path program with support from the Mellon Foundation. This four-year program provides financial and technical support to individuals, institutions and organizations to create imaginative projects using the Library’s digital collections and centering one or more of the following groups: Black, Indigenous, Hispanic/Latinx, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and other communities of color from any of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and its territories and commonwealths (Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands). Learn more about CCDI here.