Grant funding will support the planning of an upcoming exhibition celebrating Latine history and cultures in Chicago
CHICAGO (April 18, 2024) – The Chicago History Museum (CHM) is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded a grant of $74,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to support its project “Aquí en Chicago.” This grant will facilitate the planning of the dynamic temporary exhibition exploring the rich history and vibrant cultures of the Latine people of Chicago.
With “Aquí en Chicago,” CHM seeks to deepen its commitment to inclusivity and representation and celebrate the persistent cultural presence and significant contributions of Latine Chicagoans to the city’s history. Elena Gonzales, CHM Curator of Civic Engagement & Social Justice, expressed gratitude for the support from NEH, stating, “Thank you, NEH, for supporting the preparation for ‘Aquí en Chicago.’ Again and again, partners and community members have shared how vital they feel it is for the Museum to build its inclusiveness and representation of the Latine third of the city, and NEH is helping us do this crucial work.”
The project will encompass a range of initiatives aimed at celebrating and preserving the cultural heritage of Latine communities in Chicago. This includes the development of a 2,900-square-foot temporary exhibition, scheduled to open in fall 2025, as well as paid research internships, an oral history project and a series of workshops focused on collecting and preserving cultural heritage. Throughout the planning process, the Chicago History Museum is actively collaborating with community organizations to ensure the intersectionality of Latine experiences in Chicago is accurately represented and celebrated.
Veronica Casados, CHM Public Communications Manager, is available for further inquiries or interview requests regarding the project. For more information about “Aquí en Chicago” and the Chicago History Museum, please visit: https://www.chicagohistory.org/aqui-en-chicago/
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ABOUT THE CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM
The Chicago History Museum is situated on ancestral homelands of the Potawatomi people, who cared for the land until forced out by non-Native settlers. Established in 1856, the Museum is located at 1601 N. Clark Street in Lincoln Park, its third location. A major museum and research center for Chicago and U.S. history, the Chicago History Museum strives to be a destination for learning, inspiration, and civic engagement. Through dynamic exhibitions, tours, publications, special events and programming, the Museum connects people to Chicago’s history and to each other. The Museum collects and preserves millions of artifacts, documents, and images to assist in sharing Chicago stories. The Museum gratefully acknowledges the support of the Chicago Park District on behalf of the people of Chicago.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES
Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at: www.neh.gov.