2009 Moose Plate Grant round opens

It’s moose season at New Hampshire’s Department of Cultural Resources. The process to apply for grants through the department’s Conservation License Plate grants programs — also called “Moose Plate” grants — is now open.

The Department of Cultural Resources operates separate “Moose Plate” grant programs through its three divisions: the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources, the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts and the New Hampshire State Library.

While the projects funded by each division have specific requirements, all focus on awarding grants to projects that involve restoration, preservation and/or conservation of publicly owned items significant to New Hampshire’s cultural heritage. In 2008, some of the funded projects included repairing broken historic stained glass windows, conserving painted curtains from community theaters and preserving and digitizing town records.
                                                                   
Depending on the grant program applied to, requests may be for amounts up to $20,000 and may or may not require matching funds, including in-kind contributions. The deadline for the 2009 grant round is March 27, 2009. More information about each division’s specific grant program is available at www.nh.gov/nhculture/grants.htm.

“Having a Moose Plate for your car makes a statement about your commitment to preserving the things that make New Hampshire so unique. Really, you’re making an investment in New Hampshire for future generations,” said Department of Cultural Resources Commissioner Van McLeod.

“And if you already have a Moose Plate on your car, remember you can support New Hampshire’s culture by purchasing a gift certificate for someone else who doesn’t have one yet.”

The Conservation License Plate Program began in 1998 as a way to supplement existing state conservation and preservation programs with additional funding through voluntary public purchases of the plate, which features a bull moose along with New Hampshire’s state motto, “Live Free or Die.” Funds raised are reserved for publicly owned resources whose conservation and preservation will benefit and be accessible to the public.

For more information about the Moose Plate Program, including how to purchase a Moose Plate, visit www.mooseplate.com.

New Hampshire’s Department of Cultural Resources includes the State Council on the Arts, the Film and Television Office, the Division of Historical Resources, the State Library and the American Canadian French Cultural Exchange Commission. The department strives to nurture the cultural well-being of our state. From the covered bridges and traditional music of our past to the avant-garde performances and technological resources of today and tomorrow, New Hampshire’s culture is as varied as its geography and its people. This strong cultural base — which truly has something for everyone — attracts businesses looking for engaged workforces, provides outstanding educational opportunities and creates communities worth living in. Learn more at www.nh.gov/nhculture.