June 23, 2020

Manchin, Capito Announce $169K In Support Of Humanities Across West Virginia

Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $169,738 from the National Endowment of the Humanities (NEH) for Marshall University, West Virginia Mine Wars Museum, and Shepherd University. This funding was made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and will provide resources and logistical support in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has created necessary limitations on travel and exposure to large groups for the health and safety of our communities. This funding will help our arts programs and centers expand online experiences to virtual visitors in West Virginia and across the country as we continue to heed the advice of public health experts. I look forward to seeing these exhibits and will continue to advocate for our humanities to receive funding at a time when education and understanding our history are incredibly important,” Senator Manchin said.

“As the COVID-19 pandemic limits our accessibility to many of the things we enjoy, we must adapt to restrictions and guidelines that are set for our safety and make our history more accessible. This funding from NEH will help bring aspects of our state’s culture directly to the individual via technology. As we celebrate West Virginia’s 157th birthday, it is as important as ever to reflect on the rich history of our state, and I thank NEH for selecting these deserving recipients in such a competitive program,” said Senator Capito.  

Individual Awards Listed Below:

·        Marshall University ($29,750) – This funding will be used to support Marshall’s Clio platform to allow museums and historical sites to create tours with enhanced accessibility features for visitors exploring collections remotely. This program is user driven and has been able to highlight national landmarks and historical sites for everyone to explore via their own mobile devices.

·        West Virginia Mine Wars Museum ($29,988) – These resources will be used to digitally catalogue artifacts related to the 1920-21 Mine Wars and will also be made available online in order to engage virtually with visitors and members, increasing the visibility of the institution.

·        Shepherd University ($110,000) – This funding will be used to support Shepherd’s humanities faculty and staff to allow them to increase their online humanities programming and provide for smaller in-person courses.