Thomas Cole Museum Earns Two National Grants

Thomas Cole National Historic Site Awarded Two Prestigious Federal Grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowments for the Arts 

The National Awards Will Support the Site’s New Digital Education Initiative using American Art to Teach American History and its World-Class Special Exhibition in 2022 with a Guest Curator from the National Gallery of Art 

Catskill, NY – February 22 – The Thomas Cole National Historic Site announced today that it has been awarded two federal grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the National Endowments for the Arts (NEA). The highly competitive national awards support two new projects developed by the Thomas Cole National Historic Site that build on the organization’s history of programmatic excellence. The Thomas Cole Historic Site is located in Catskill, New York, and serves as both an international cultural destination and community cornerstone. The organization would like to recognize Senate Majority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer for his support of its work and these two projects in particular. 

The NEH awarded a “Digital Projects for the Public: Discovery Grant” in the amount of $30,000 for the initial phase of the project titled “A New Digital Game Engaging Students with American History through American Art.” The project will address an urgent need to support students in grades 4 to 8 in developing an understanding of the history of the United States from multiple viewpoints so they may better understand current events and the choices that impact our future. As part of the NEH’s “A More Perfect Union” initiative, the digital game will use art as an entry point for young learners to explore the history of the United States, specifically between the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, when the artist Thomas Cole (1801-1848) was active. Additional support for the project is provided by The Jack Warner Foundation.  

The NEA awarded a “Grants for Arts Projects” in the Museums discipline in the amount of $35,000 to support a new exhibition and publication entitled “Thomas Cole’s Studio: Memory and Inspiration” that is now scheduled for 2022 at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. The project will explore the final phase of the artist Thomas Cole’s career by reassembling the major works of art that were in Cole's studio at the time of his death in 1848 and the important influence that the studio - which was preserved intact after his death by his family - had on the many American artists who visited to learn as much as possible about the late master. The exhibition is curated by Franklin Kelly, the Christiane Ellis Valone Curator of American Paintings at the National Gallery of Art, assisted by Annette Blaugrund, Consulting Curator and Former director of the National Academy Museum and School of Fine Art, NYC, and Kate Menconeri, the Thomas Cole Site’s Curator and Director of Collections & Exhibitions. The exhibition catalogue will be published by Hirmer Publishers, Munich. The project will be presented in the Thomas Cole’s Site’s reconstructed 1846 New Studio building in conjunction with a site-specific artist installation by Marc Swanson in the adjacent historic Main House created in conversation with Swanson’s solo exhibition at MASS MoCA. Swanson’s installation at the Thomas Cole Site will explore similar themes of memorial and loss.  

"The National Endowment for the Humanities is pleased to be able to support the innovative use of technology to engage young learners with U.S. history through important works of art," said NEH Acting Chairman Adam Wolfson.  

“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support this project from the Thomas Cole National Historic Site,” said Arts Endowment Acting Chairman Ann Eilers. “The Thomas Cole National Historic Site is among the arts organizations across the country that have demonstrated creativity, excellence, and resilience during this very challenging year.” 

“The Thomas Cole National Historic Site is one of the Catskill’s hidden treasures, preserving and uncovering long lost wall paintings by the great American landscape artist and sharing them with the world,” said Senator Schumer. “Today’s federal funding will make the site more accessible to all ages and shed new light on the final works of Thomas Cole’s life. I am proud to deliver this funding that will enrich the lives of not only New Yorkers, but also of all Americans, who can soon discover the gem that is Thomas Cole’s legacy for themselves.” 

“We are so grateful to have the support of the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts behind us as we move forward with these important projects that aim to address some of the most pressing educational and societal needs of our time,” said Betsy Jacks, Executive Director of the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. “I’d also like to thank Senator Schumer for encouraging us every step of the way and for recognizing the educational and economic value of arts organizations in New York communities.”  

ONGOING EXHIBITION at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site 

+ The Pollinator Pavilion: A walk-in public artwork created by Mark Dion and Dana Sherwood offers visitors an opportunity to encounter local pollinators. The outdoor sculpture is free and open daily year-round from dawn to dusk.