Conserving Black Modernism Grant Program

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund (AACHAF), which is a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has launched the new Conserving Black Modernism grant program through funding from and a partnership with the Getty Foundation’s Keeping it Modern initiative. The Conserving Black Modernism grant program is designed to empower and equip preservationists and stewards with funding and technical support to preserve the material heritage, innovation, and legacy of modern architectural sites designed by Black architects.
 

Integrated into the Action Fund’s existing National Grant Program, the Conserving Black Modernism grant program will support non-profits and municipalities to steward 16 historic assets of modern architecture through funding, technical assistance, public awareness, and education. The program will support eligible project planning activities and seeks to develop future-looking plans that model and strengthen stewardship, interpretation, and asset management. This program aims to increase recognition of Black architects and their artistic expressions as well as diversify the meaning of American modern architecture and design. The Action Fund invites proposals from a broad pool of applicants who are stewards of these places for public benefit and access.

Grants made from Conserving Black Modernism will total $150,000 each. Funding will be flexible and can support planning activities, limited capital improvements, and indirect costs. Funding ratios will be balanced to support comprehensive project planning needs. For example, a $150,000 project planning grant with 10% indirect can be allocated to advance a full-scale building evaluation and preservation plan. The other grant option is a mix of project planning and limited capital improvements which can be allocated as $90,000 for planning activities, $45,000 for capital expenses, and $15,000 for indirect expenses. Grantees can address the building’s priority needs and experience the full cycle of planning, design, and construction. Additional grantee support will include technical assistance, promotion, and conservation management training.

The initial Letter of Intent (LOI) must be submitted by Monday, December 19, 2022, at 11:59 PM local time, through the online grants portal. If the LOI is accepted, a full application will be requested from the applicant. The 2023 grant cycle will be the inaugural round of the two-year Conserving Black Modernism grant initiative. All applicants who submitted an LOI will be notified of their status via email in early March.

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SAH thanks The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation
for its operating support.
Society of Architectural Historians
1365 N. Astor Street
Chicago, Illinois 60610
312.573.1365