The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) announced “Common Heritage,” the first grant of its kind, to make “light historical records and artifacts currently hidden in family attics and basements” available to the public.

In announcing the initiative, NEH Chairman William “Bro” Adams said, “We know that America’s cultural heritage isn’t found only in libraries and museums, but in our homes, in our family histories, and the stories and objects we pass down to our children.”

NEH encourages local institutions such as libraries, archives, museums, and colleges to apply for up to $12,000 in project funding. The application deadline is June 25, 2015, but a webinar for interested applicants will be held on May 5, 2015. For more information please visit NEH’s webpage: https://www.neh.gov/grants/preservation/common-heritage