HISTORICAL VILLAGE FINALIZES FLORIDA HUMANITIES “AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN” GRANT

April 8, 2022 – Florida Humanities, the statewide, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities has awarded the Sanibel Historical Village a grant for general operating costs to help recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $23,000 grant was used to assist with payment of administrative costs including salaries and IT website support. Issued in December, the funds have now been allocated and a final report submitted to Florida Humanities.

“Like all businesses, and particularly nonprofits, the Historical Village was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Village Executive Director Emilie Alfino. “This grant went a long way toward helping us catch up after the losses we experienced.”

The National Endowment for the Humanities received $135 million from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The state humanities councils, including Florida Humanities, each received a portion of the NEH award to support museums, archives, historic sites, and other humanities-focused nonprofits. The Sanibel Historical Village was one of 129 organizations in Florida that was awarded ARP funding totaling $1.88 million from Florida Humanities. The grants were intended to meet immediate operational needs in order for organizations to remain viable and maintain delivery of public humanities programming and resources in their communities. Florida Humanities received 188 applications for ARP funding, with nonprofits requesting the most funds for staffing and utilities.

These funds, said Florida Humanities Executive Director Dr. Nashid Madyun, provide a safety net for the organizations so they can focus on other priorities, such as fundraising and creating programming. “For smaller nonprofits, when bills are paid and staff are safe and intact, that type of alleviation is immeasurable,” he said. “Florida Humanities is honored to provide a lifeline to our state’s cultural and historic organizations, ensuring they continue to enrich their local communities, and the Sunshine State at large, for years to come”

Sanibel Historical Museum and Village will begin its regular schedule on December 2, 2023, Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Sanibel Historical Village is located at 950 Dunlop Road (next to BIG ARTS) and there is handicap access to eight of the nine buildings. Admission is FREE for SHMV members and $15 for non-members (adults ages 18 years and up). For more information, call 472-4648 during museum hours or visit www.sanibelmuseum.org.

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