Open Now: Nominations for the 2024 Humanities Awards

The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities is now accepting public nominations for the 2024 Humanities Awards, an annual program honoring Louisianans who have made outstanding contributions to the understanding of the state’s culture and history. The deadline to submit nominations is October 20, 2023, with the exception of Book of the Year nominations, which are due October 10.

Since 1985, LEH has recognized hundreds of individuals and organizations for their work in the realms of literature, history, philosophy, photography, and more. Public nominations are sought for six categories:

Lifetime Contributions: Honors citizens who have supported public appreciation of issues central to the humanities.
Documentary Photographer of the Year: Honors documentary photographers whose work captures Louisiana’s history, culture, and/or peoples. Nominations may be for a complete body of work or a single project.
Humanities Documentary Film of the Year: Awarded to the documentary film released in the previous calendar year (2023) that best exemplifies scholarship on Louisiana topics or by Louisiana documentary filmmakers.
Humanities Book of the Year: Awarded to the book published between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023, that best exemplifies scholarship on Louisiana topics or by Louisiana writers.
Light Up for Literacy: Honors individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to literacy efforts in the state. The award is presented in partnership with the State Library of Louisiana’s Center for the Book.

Museum Exhibition of the Year: Recognizes an exhibition held during the prior two calendar years (2022 and 2023) that brought new insights to our understanding of the state, its artists, and/or its history. Awarded biannually in even-numbered years.

Note: The Best in Digital Humanities award is awarded biannually in odd-numbered years. The next award in this category will be made in 2025. 

DEADLINES

Humanities Book of the Year: October 10, 2023

All other categories: October 20, 2023

Nominations received after 11:59 p.m. on the due date may not be reviewed.

HOW TO SUBMIT NOMINATIONS

Individuals, institutions, or organizations may submit nominations. Individuals, however, may not nominate themselves. Letters of nomination should not exceed two pages and should detail specific accomplishments that qualify the nominee for the award; in particular, their contributions to our understanding of the state and the humanities. Whenever possible, a curriculum vitae for the nominee and other letters of support should accompany the letter of nomination. Supporting documentation, including hard copies of or links to press coverage and/or reviews, are also welcome.

All nominations should be addressed to: Humanities Awards Committee, Attn: Clare Shelburne, Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, 938 Lafayette St, Suite 300, New Orleans, LA 70113. Nominations also may be emailed to [email protected].

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Humanities Book of the Year

Include five copies of the book in the nomination packet.
Books must be single- or co-authored. Anthologies and multi-authored edited volumes are not eligible.

Humanities Documentary Film of the Year

Include a screening link.

Documentary Photographer of the Year

Include a digital portfolio of the artist’s work as well as a list of exhibitions and/or publications in which the work has appeared.

Museum Exhibition of the Year 

If applicable, nominators in this category are encouraged to provide hard or digital copies of any corresponding exhibition catalog.

DETAILS

The Humanities Awards Committee will select nominees who best exemplify one or more of the above categories. No single humanities area will receive primary consideration, but the nominees’ activities must reflect one or more disciplines in the humanities. For additional information about the annual humanities awards, contact Clare Shelburne, [email protected], or click here.

View a list of awardees since 1985.