Smithsonian Exhibition Starter Kit

Overview

Smithsonian Exhibition Starter Kit

Create a Smithsonian Exhibition for Your Town

Florida Humanities, in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution’s Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), is offering grant funding for communities to participate in their new Exhibition Starter Kit program, Many Voices, One Nation. Up to five Florida-based, non-profit organizations will receive funding to utilize templated resources and Smithsonian-curated content to create local exhibitions that explore how the many voices of the people in America have shaped our nation and our communities. The project will culminate with local exhibitions opening to the public in July 2026 when our country celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Exhibition Starter Kits provide a Smithsonian-developed framework to guide selected venues through the development of local humanities-based exhibitions using their own collections and cultural content. While working on their exhibition project, funded venues will receive guidance from the Smithsonian on how to design and develop compelling exhibitions that are reflective of the people, places, and events important to their community.

Many Voices, One Nation is based on an original exhibition created by the National Museum of American History.

About the Starter Kit Program

Through Many Voices, One Nation, communities can dig deeper into the cultural intersections and transformations that have shaped the places they call home. America is a nation of diverse ethnicities, stories, and perspectives across many unique regions. Every town has fascinating stories to tell of the people who are woven into their cultural heritage. Who was here first, who came freely, and who came by force? When have these different voices intersected to impact who is free, who is included, and who is equal? By listening to these many voices, we stretch, deepen, and enrich our understanding of American history.

The Exhibition Starter Kit includes print-it-yourself templated panels that can be customized with local content as well as two prebuilt, stand-alone structures. Host sites will receive virtual and in-person training on topics ranging from interpretation to fabrication and technical support throughout the development process.

Each Starter Kit includes:

* 5-Year licensing agreement with the Smithsonian that includes support for exhibition planning and development and hosting of a local exhibition
* Two Ready-to-Build stand-alone structures with Smithsonian-curated content on ready-to-assemble banners (approx. 200 square feet)
* Digital files for Ready-to-Print panels for local content (approx. 100 running feet)
* Exhibition Handbook to guide sites from exhibition concept to completion
* Graphics package of design elements
* Digital promotional materials 
* Educational resources for engaging the community in the exhibition
* In-person and virtual training sessions over a period of one year hosted by Smithsonian and Florida Humanities staff
* On-going project support from Smithsonian staff

Exhibition Content

This exhibition program allows host sites to combine Smithsonian-curated content with local stories to create inclusive exhibitions that resonate with their community. The provided Smithsonian framework explores historic events and poses questions for today by exploring the following areas:

Section One: How Did We Become Us?

This section of the exhibit explores a great swath of American history and allows local hosts to tell who has settled, interacted, and come together in their communities. Stories of immigration, slavery, migration, forced relocation, and multiculturalism are central here.

_Subsections:_

* Unsettling History (1492-1776)
* Peopling an Expanding Nation (1776-1900)
* New Americans, Continuing Debates (1900-Today)

Section Two: Places of Negotiation

Throughout our history, there have been places where people “work out” new ideals on freedom, equality, and inclusion. This section explores the meaning and impact of these places of negotiation.

_Subsections:_

* \- Who is Free?
* \- Who is Included?
* \- Who is Equal?
* \- Places of Negotiation: Workplace, Places of Worship, Military, Education, and Sports

Project Funding Phases and Contract Periods

* Phase One:
* Up to $7,000 - Exhibition Scripting and Design
* Phase Two:
* Up to $10,000 - Exhibition Fabrication, Installation, and Launch Events
* Venues that satisfactorily complete Phase One will be invited to apply for Phase Two funding to support eligible exhibition fabrication and installation costs as well as public programming associated with the opening of their exhibition.

Eligibility

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Application Details

Naturalization ceremony of new immigrants at the US Capitol, 2015 (photo credit: National Archives)
Smithsonian Exhibition Starter Kit: “Many Voices, One Nation”
2024 - 2025 Grant Guidelines
Florida Humanities, in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution’s Traveling Exhibition Service, is
offering grant funding for communities to participate in their new Exhibition Starter Kit program, Many
Voices, One Nation. Up to five Florida-based non-profit organizations will receive funding to utilize
templated resources and Smithsonian-curated content to create local exhibitions that explore how the
many voices of the people in America have shaped our nation and our communities. The project will
culminate with local exhibitions opening to the public in July 2026 when our country celebrates the
250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Funding amount: Up to $7,000
Important dates:
November 20, 2024 @ 12pm (EST) Required Letter of Interest (LOI) deadline
December 4, 2024 Notification of LOI approval
January 22, 2025 @ 12pm (EST) Final application deadline for organizations
with an approved LOI
Week of February 10, 2025 Notification of final funding decisions
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Overview
Exhibition Starter Kit: Many Voices, One Nation is a program of the National Museum of American History and
Museum on Main Street (MoMS), a program of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES).
Offered in Florida in collaboration with Florida Humanities, the Starter Kit program allows select organizations to
augment a Smithsonian-curated exhibition with their own local stories and images—creating unique experiences
that are reflective of the people, places, and events important to their community.
Exhibition Starter Kit: Many Voices, One Nation specifically explores our
country’s national ideal: E pluribus unum, Out of many, one. Adapted from an
original exhibition on view at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American
History, this Starter Kit examines the diverse ethnicities, stories, and
perspectives of people across our country’s many unique regions. Learn more
about the national exhibition currently on view in Washington DC here:
https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/many-voices-one-nation
Through Many Voices, One Nation, select communities will dig deeper into the
fascinating stories of the people who are woven into their own cultural
heritage. Who was there first, who came freely, and who came by force? When
have these different voices intersected to impact who is free, who is included,
and who is equal? By listening to these many voices, we stretch, deepen, and
enrich our understanding of American history.
Many Voices, One Nation Exhibition
By participating in the Starter Kit program, select organizations will engage in a National Museum of American History
Washington, DC
hands-on opportunity to learn about the exhibition development process using
Smithsonian-curated content and resources. A provided Smithsonian curatorial framework will be fully
developed by host communities to integrate historical images, oral histories, art and artifacts to create
exhibitions that offer unique explorations of the roots and interconnectedness of cultural groups in local
communities.
Starter Kit Program Offerings
Organizations approved for funding will receive a variety of resources and training opportunities as part of the
Starter Kit program. Each Starter Kit host site will receive:
• 5-Year licensing agreement with the Smithsonian that includes support for exhibition planning and
development and hosting of a local exhibition
• Two Ready-to-Build stand-alone structures with Smithsonian-curated content on ready-to-assemble
banners (approx. 200 square feet)
• Digital files for Ready-to-Print panels for local content (approx. 100 running
feet)
• Exhibition Handbook to guide sites from exhibition concept to completion
• Graphics package of design elements
• Digital promotional materials
• Educational resources for engaging the community in the exhibition
• In-person and virtual training sessions over a period of one year hosted by
Smithsonian and Florida Humanities staff
• On-going project support from Smithsonian staff
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Exhibition Content
This exhibition program allows host sites to combine Smithsonian-curated content with local stories to create
inclusive exhibitions that resonate with their community. The provided Smithsonian framework explores historic
events and poses questions for today by exploring the following areas:
Section One: How Did We Become Us?
This section of the exhibit explores a great swath of American history and allows local hosts to tell who has
settled, interacted, and come together in their communities. Stories of immigration, slavery, migration, forced
relocation, and multiculturalism are central here.
Subsections:

Unsettling History (1492-1776)

Peopling an Expanding Nation (1776-1900)

New Americans, Continuing Debates (1900-Today)

Section Two: Places of Negotiation
Throughout our history, there have been places where people “work out” new ideals on freedom, equality, and
inclusion. This section explores the meaning and impact of these places of negotiation.
Subsections:

Who is Free?

Who is Included?

Who is Equal?

Places of Negotiation: Workplace, Places of Worship, Military, Education, and Sports

Ready-to-Build stand-alone structures
Starter Kit Example: FOOD
Installation with local content
DeKalb County History Center (IL)
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Eligibility Requirements and Site Selection Criteria
Florida non-profit organizations such as museums, historical societies, libraries, historic preservation groups,
downtown development groups, and Main Street organizations are eligible to apply. Individuals, foreign, or for-
profit organizations are ineligible for funding. All venues must:
• have sufficient floor space (minimum of 200 square feet) to install the two ready-to-build, stand-alone
structures and a minimum of 100 running feet of wall space for wall mounted panels
• be fully handicap accessible
• open to the public a minimum of 25 hours per week, and
• may not charge a special fee for entrance to the exhibit in addition to the venue’s regular admission fee
Key criteria for selection of sites include:
● Geography and Organization Size –The Starter Kit program is primarily intended for small to mid-sized
organizations. Priority consideration will be given to organizations located in rural communities,
communities with a population size of less than 25,000, and/or organizations with an expressed
commitment to serving populations whose access to the humanities is limited by geography, language,
economics, or physical ability. The final selection of venues will also represent a broad geographic reach
statewide.
● Organizational Resources – Successful applicants will demonstrate their organization’s capacity to
successfully complete all phases of the Starter Kit program. This includes: providing sufficient staffing and
scholarship (paid and/or volunteer) to research and write the exhibition script and collect local content;
ability to host the completed exhibition and complementary public programming over a multi-year period;
providing adequate financial resources in addition to Florida Humanities funding for the design and
fabrication of their local exhibition; and identifying goals for educational outreach to extend the reach of the
project.
● Project Objectives – The fit between the Starter Kit topic and the community’s cultural assets will be
carefully considered. Selections will be based on each applicant’s project objectives and a demonstrated
relevance to the Starter Kit framework.
● Collaboration and Support – Preference will be given to organizations that show evidence of collaborative
community partnerships for all phases of the project including exhibition design, educational programming,
and promotional support.
Unique Entity ID and SAM.gov
All applying organizations must have a verifiable Unique Entity ID (SAM) through the SAM.gov website and a
Federal ID number in order to submit a Letter of Interest and a final application. The Unique Entity ID is a 12-
character alphanumeric ID that replaced the DUNS number in April 2022. Organizations are NOT required to
have a full SAM.gov registration in order to apply for or receive funding. All organizations are also processed
through Guidestar Charity Check with their Federal ID to ensure they are in good fiscal standing.
Required Training and On-going Support
All applicants must identify a project director who will be required to attend an in-person meeting with
Smithsonian Institution and Florida Humanities staff in St. Petersburg in late March 2025. The project director
must also commit to regular check-in calls and virtual meetings with the Smithsonian Program Coordinator
throughout 2025 and 2026.
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Project Funding Phases and Contract Periods
Phase One: Up to $7,000 - Exhibition Scripting and Design
Organizations approved for Phase One funding will be notified the week of February 10, 2025 with a contract
period of February 15, 2025 – February 15, 2026. All Phase One final reports must be received no later than
February 15, 2026. Grant funds will be dispersed in two installments for Phase One:
• 90% upon receipt of a signed contract and cash request and participation in the required in-person meeting
for Project Directors to be held in St. Petersburg in March 2025.
• 10% to be paid as a reimbursement upon receipt and approval of all required Phase One final reports
including:

Exhibition Script: The exhibition script, approved by Florida Humanities and the Smithsonian, lays out

the content and structure of the local exhibition and includes accumulated research, professional
proofreading, and fact checking by an appropriate expert or scholar.

Objects and Image List: These lists are a compilation of the physical objects and the images that will

accompany the exhibition. Permissions must be secured to include the objects and images in the exhibit.

Design and Build Plan: This document includes a timeline for designing, fabricating and installing the

exhibition, a draft floorplan with content layout, and preliminary quote(s) from fabricators and/or
graphic design services.
Additional reporting requirements including submission of a final financial report will also be required of all
venues at the end of Phase One. All materials and reports must be reviewed and approved by the Smithsonian
and Florida Humanities before an organization will be considered eligible to apply for Phase Two funding.
Phase Two: Up to $10,000 - Exhibition Fabrication, Installation, and Launch Events
Venues that satisfactorily complete Phase One will be invited to apply for Phase Two funding to support eligible
exhibition fabrication and installation costs as well as public programming associated with the opening of their
exhibition. During the Phase Two contract period, March 2026 – December 2026, all exhibitions must be fully
installed and an exhibition opening event held by no later than July 2026. Each organization must commit to
displaying the exhibit for no less than six months, but no longer than the end of their 5-year Smithsonian
licensing period. All venues will be required to submit final reports to Florida Humanities and the Smithsonian
Institution at the end of Phase Two.
How to Apply
Step One: REQUIRED Letter of Interest - This application requires the initial submission of a Letter of Interest
(LOI). LOI’s must be submitted in Florida Humanities’ online portal (https://www.floridahumanities.org/apply)
with applicants responding to the following questions:
1. Briefly describe the mission of your organization, community demographics, population size, and expected
primary audience(s) for this project.
2. What is your organization’s prior experience with exhibition curation and fabrication?
3. Briefly describe the people, places and stories - past, present and future - that define your community and
how they directly relate to the Starter Kit theme and content areas. Include any relevant elements of your
community’s story that have been underrepresented.
4. Briefly describe any special events, programs or initiatives your community or your organization has begun
planning to mark the country’s Semiquincentennial in 2026. How might this exhibit and related
programming complement those efforts?
5. Identify any key community partners that you may work with to produce the exhibit and/or host public
programming.
* Please note that Florida Humanities does not provide evaluation feedback for denied LOIs.
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Step Two: Staff Consultation, Final Application Submission and Evaluation - Applicants with an approved LOI
will be given access to a final application in Florida Humanities’ online portal. Applicants with an approved LOI
may request a phone or Zoom consultation with Florida Humanities staff to discuss completion of their final
application and project budget. Final applications must be submitted by no later than 12pm (EST) on January 22,
2025. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions by the week of February 10, 2025. Incomplete or late
applications will not be considered.
All completed applications will be reviewed by an evaluation team comprised of Florida Humanities and
Smithsonian staff, Florida Humanities board members, and humanities scholars. Please note that all grants are
awarded on a competitive basis based on the stated grant eligibility requirements and site selection criteria. All
awards are dependent on the availability of federal funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Application Narrative
All applicants provided access to the final application must respond to each of the following narrative questions:
1. Organizational Overview and Community Demographics:
Provide a brief organizational history and mission statement for the applicant organization. Be sure to note
any prior programmatic history with Florida Humanities, particularly the Museum on Main Street (MoMS)
program, if applicable. Describe your organization’s permanent collections, archives or other cultural
resources as well as prior experience with curating exhibitions and hosting public programs. Identify your
community’s demographics, population size, and intended primary audience(s) for this project.
2. Proposed Exhibition Venue:
Describe the space to be utilized for the proposed exhibition including square footage (floor and wall space),
climate controls, security, and compliance with ADA requirements. Include the hours the venue is open to
the public and any admission fees that you currently charge.
3. Local Connections to Exhibition Themes and 2026:
Describe the people, places and stories - past, present and future - that define your community and how
they directly relate to the Starter Kit themes and content areas. Include any relevant elements of your
community’s story that have been underrepresented. How might this exhibit and public programming
complement the country’s upcoming Semiquincentennial in 2026?
4. Proposed Exhibition Content:
Tell us what types of collections you intend to use in your exhibition (objects, photographs, audio stories,
video, etc...) and where those resources will be obtained. For example, will you be utilizing your own
archives and/or will content come from other local sources including the collections of museums, public
libraries, historical societies or loans from community members?
5. Project Team and Lead Scholar:
Identify each member of your core project team, clearly defining the specific role of each individual in the
project and their area(s) of expertise. This must include the Project Director who will be primarily
responsible for the successful implementation of the overall project. Team members should also include
individuals who will serve as content area experts or curators, writers/copy editors/proof readers for your
exhibit script, and designers who will assist with creating your exhibition floor plan. In addition to the project
team, all applicants are required to identify a Lead Scholar who will assist the applicant organization with
expanding on the Smithsonian themes to provide an accurate and inclusive narrative for the local exhibition.
Depending on the size and scope of your organization and project, the number of team members will vary
greatly. One person may also serve multiple roles in your project.
6. Community Partnerships
Identify any key organizational partners you expect to work with on the development of the exhibit content
and/or which are expected to provide additional financial, programmatic, or promotional support for your
project. Letters of support from community partners are highly encouraged and should be included in the
Support Documents section of your application.
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Budget
Requests may not exceed $7,000 and Florida Humanities funds may only be used for allowable expenses
incurred during the grant period. Allowable budget expenses for Phase One funding include:
• $2,000 REQUIRED - Each approved applicant will be required to pay a $2,000 5-year licensing fee to the
Smithsonian.
• Honoraria for a local lead scholar and other content area experts and advisors.
• Travel costs including mileage and per diem for the project director to attend the required in-person training
session to be held in St. Petersburg in March 2025. Hotel costs will be covered by Florida Humanities.
• Expenses related to gathering local content such as story collection events, oral histories, or other programs
designed to collect materials from the public. This may include venue rental, AV services, and event
marketing and promotion.
• Contracted services for professional script editing, proof reading, translation, and/or exhibition layout and
design.
• Equipment costs not to exceed 20% of the total requested. Equipment may include items such as
microphones and video recorders for the collection of oral histories and other items such as scanners
utilized to collect or digitize content for the local exhibition.
• Indirect costs. See explanation below.
Estimated Cost Share. A minimum 1:1 cost share (i.e. match) is required for all Florida Humanities grants. The
match can be entirely in-kind, entirely cash, or a combination of the two and can be provided by the grant
recipient and/or from other collaborating partners or organizations. All estimated cost share contributions must
be incurred during the grant contract period and used to support activities included in the approved project
application. In addition to staff and volunteer time directly related to the execution of the project, eligible cost
share should include all estimated expenses not covered by Florida Humanities funds.
Indirect Costs. Indirect costs are also known as “administrative costs”, “overhead” or “general operating costs”.
These are costs necessary for keeping your organization running on a day-to-day basis and include expenses
such as insurance, rent or mortgage, utilities, and salaries and benefits associated with executive or
administrative personnel who are not directly involved in your proposed project.
Florida Humanities allows organizations to include indirect costs of up to 10% of the total requested funds as
part of your grant request or to help meet the cost share requirement. Applicants with a federally negotiated
indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA), may elect to request their approved NICRA rate from grant funds or
include as cost share. All applicants using a NICRA rate are required to upload a copy of their NICRA agreement
in the support documents showing that the proper rate is being used. If you elect to use the rate of 10%, no
additional documentation is needed.
Sample Budgets and Budget Revisions. Applicants with an approved LOI will be provided with a sample project
budget and further guidance from Florida Humanities staff regarding eligible and ineligible expenses for Florida
Humanities funding. Applicants selected for final grant funding will also be given an opportunity to revise their
project budget following participation in the required in-person Project Directors meeting.
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Support Documents
Applicants are REQUIRED to provide the following support documents as part of their application:
1. A project workplan of no more than two pages that includes proposed Phase One key activities designed to
develop your exhibition content
2. Photos or a floorplan of the proposed exhibition space
3. Photos of prior exhibitions hosted by your organization
4. Examples of organizational marketing and promotional materials for previous programs and exhibits hosted
by your organization.
5. Letter of commitment and short narrative bio (no more than 2 paragraphs) for your lead scholar.
The following additional support documents are OPTIONAL but highly recommended. Up to three files may be
uploaded, each of which may be multiple pages. These may include:
• Sample images of any items from your organization’s archives or collections or those that you may borrow
that represent the exhibit themes and plan to include in your exhibition
• Letters of support from partnering organizations
• Letters of commitment and brief biography descriptions (no more than 2 paragraphs) for key project team
members
Reviewing and Submitting the Final Application
IMPORTANT: Before submitting your final application, please review your entire application by clicking on the
“Application Packet” link to ensure all documents are uploaded properly. Once submitted, applicants will no
longer be able to make any changes without contacting Florida Humanities staff.
Need Help or Have Questions?
For technical issues with the online grants system or creating an account, please email our staff at
grants@flahum.org.
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