"Picturing America" Posters

The American Library Association is pleased to announce "Picturing America," a new grant opportunity for schools and school libraries. Applications are now available at
http://publicprograms.ala.org/picturingamerica

A pilot project of NEH's We the People program, "Picturing America" has been created to promote the teaching, study and understanding of American history and culture in K-12 schools through examples of the nation's most significant works of art and architecture and to facilitate
interdisciplinary partnerships between school library media specialists, art teachers, history teachers, classroom instructors and other educators.

"Picturing America" will provide 500 public and private schools with:

• A collection of 20 double-sided, laminated posters depicting works of American art.
• A 100-page resource booklet with information about the paintings, sculpture, architecture, and crafts reproduced. The booklet contains essays for each poster, teaching suggestions, and quick introductory exercises geared to different grade levels.
• The Picturing America Web site, which will contain links to extensive lesson plans and other educational resources organized by poster, themes, and subjects (history, social studies, and other disciplines).

Public, private, parochial and charter schools and home school consortia (K-12) are eligible to receive "Picturing America" awards. Applications may be submitted on behalf of the schools by school librarians, art teachers, classroom teachers and other educators and school administrators. The online application is available at
http://publicprograms.ala.org/picturingamerica

NEH estimates that the complete application process will take one hour to complete.

A list of "Picturing America" images, as well as guidelines and applications, are available online at
http://publicprograms.ala.org/picturingamerica
Online applications will be accepted January 8 through March 19, 2007. Awards will be announced in May 2007. "Picturing America" collections will be distributed in September 2007 for use during the 2007-2008 school year.

With questions, please contact the ALA Public Programs Office at publicprograms@ala.org.