Historic Preservation Grants Awarded

MACON, GEORGIA

At its July meeting, trustees of The 1772 Foundation, awarded three grants totaling $128,000. Individual grants ranged in amount from $3,000 to $75,000. Three awards were made in the Foundation’s granting categories of dynamic preservation and African American experience.

Dynamic Preservation

In this grouping, The 1772 Foundation considers robust proposals and innovative projects from organizations committed to achieving change. The Climate Heritage Network (San Antonio, TX) was awarded $75,000 for its Decarbonizing the Built Environment through Heritage initiative. Its approach fosters engagement of frontline communities in thinking about cultural heritage and climate action in the built environment and their involvement in local heritage-based climate work. Such discourse leads to advocacy for changes to policy, building codes and practices needed for heritage-based climate mitigation responses. Additionally, The 1772 Foundation awarded $50,000 to the National Trust for Historic Preservation (Washington, DC) to sponsor the climate track at its annual conference. Foundation President Margaret Waldock comments, “1772 seeks opportunities to amplify the message that historic preservation is climate action and compel people to respond accordingly. We look forward to the results of the Climate Heritage Network's ambitious program. We also are proud to support the National Trust for Historic Preservation as it presents this perspective to its conference attendees.”

African American Experience

The 1772 Foundation continues its support for organizations endeavoring to document and preserve African American heritage and contributions in the United States. The Providence Preservation Society (Providence, RI) received $3,000 in funding to explore the connection of one of the oldest houses in the city, known as Shakespeare’s Head, to enslaved people. Notes Ethiel Garlington, the executive director of The 1772 Foundation, “The Providence Preservation Society is committed to learning as much history as possible about Shakespeare’s Head and using that knowledge to determine the building’s future. We hope other organizations will be as thoughtful when considering the next chapter for their historic properties.”