The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) recently announced that a second round of applications for Picturing America would be accepted online through October 31, 2008. Picturing America is a free educational resource that helps teach American history and culture by bringing some of our nation’s greatest works of art directly to classrooms and libraries. In June, the NEH awarded Picturing America to over 26,000 schools and public libraries nationwide.

Public, private, parochial, and charter and home school consortia (K-12), as well as public libraries in the U.S and its territories are eligible to receive Picturing America materials. Previous recipients of the Picturing America collection are not eligible for a second award.

Interested schools and public libraries should submit an application by 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 PicturingAmerica Web site, PicturingAmerica.neh.gov.

Under the Picturing American program, at no cost, recipients will receive a set of large, high-quality reproductions of 40 pieces of great American art (each approximately 24” x 36”) and an illustrated teachers resource book with information about the artists and artwork and lesson ideas for all grade levels to facilitate the use of the reproductions in core subject areas. Delivery of these materials is scheduled for spring 2009. Additional educational resources are also available through the Picturing America Web site, PicturingAmerica.neh.gov.

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