SCHOLARLY EDITIONS AND TRANSLATIONS

Description: Scholarly Editions and Translations grants support the preparation of editions and translations of pre-existing texts and documents that are currently inaccessible or available in inadequate editions. These grants support full-time or part-time activities for periods of at least one year up to a maximum of three years.

Projects must be undertaken by a team of at least one editor or translator and one other staff member. Grants typically support editions and translations of significant literary, philosophical and historical materials, but other types of work, such as musical notation, are also eligible.

Applicants should demonstrate familiarity with the best practices recommended by the Association for Documentary Editing or the Modern Language Association Committee on Scholarly Editions.

NEH encourages submission of Scholarly Editions and Translations applications from faculty at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Institutions with High Hispanic Enrollment and Tribal Colleges and Universities.

The Scholarly Editions and Translations program welcomes projects for editions or translations of texts that respond to NEH's Bridging Cultures initiative. Texts could focus on cultures internationally or within the United States.

Fit for public broadcasting: Public broadcasting stations are eligible to apply for this program. Stations with possession of inaccessible documents can use this funding opportunity to translate and prepare these documents for public consumption. While most of the previously funded projects are papers and traditional documents, NEH will also accept proposals for preparation of other types of documents, including musical notation. NEH is particularly interested in applicants who propose to prepare and disseminate documents that relate to other cultures. Among other criteria, applications will be evaluated on the dissemination and access plans for the project. Public broadcasting stations that do not have documents of their own can work with an institution or project director to develop a multimedia dissemination plan for the prepared documents. NEH gives preference to projects that provide free online access to digital materials produced with grant funds, so public broadcasting stations may be able to lend their expertise in this area. Public broadcasting stations with ties to institutions of higher education or museums may be especially able to find a partnership opportunity.

Eligibility: U.S. nonprofit organizations or institutions, state and local governments and federally recognized Indian tribal governments are eligible to apply. Only adjunct faculty, faculty at for-profit institutions and scholars without an institutional affiliation may apply as unaffiliated project directors.

Anticipated funding: Awards are made for at least one year up to a maximum of three years and normally range from $50,000 to $100,000 per year. Although cost sharing is not required, NEH is rarely able to support the full costs of projects approved for funding. In most cases, NEH Scholarly Editions and Translations grants cover no more than 80 percent of project costs. The balance of the costs is to be borne by the applicant's institution or other sources.

How to apply: Applicants can submit drafts of their proposals at least six weeks before the deadline. Submitting a draft proposal enables an applicant to receive staff comments about the substance and format of the application.

Applications must be submitted on Grants.gov. Online submission requires registration, a process that usually takes three to five business days but can take as long as four weeks. Be sure to visit Grants.gov and begin registering well in advance of the deadline. Applicants must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and must maintain an active registration with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR).

Resources:
Program notice
Program website
2010-2012 Awardees
NEH Division of Research Programs website