Canterbury Shaker Village has been awarded a $75,000 grant from The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)to enable the Village to develop a comprehensive plan for new interpretation and permanent exhibitions that explore the economic history, entrepreneurial spirit, and technological innovations of the Canterbury Shakers.
The project team will complete a thorough review and evaluation of existing site interpretation, related exhibitions, and installations related to the Canterbury Shakers’ pursuit of economic independence. The planning process will incorporate new research and insights from consulting humanities scholars and museum exhibition designers. This work will lead to updated site interpretation and plans for new permanent onsite exhibitions utilizing the Village’s historic campus and collection.
Project Director Kyle Sandler is thankful for the opportunity this grant provides for an in-depth exploration of the economic history of the Canterbury Shakers. “Our current understanding of their enterprise and innovation is rooted in the goods they produced. This upcoming research will help us better understand the factors that influenced those products, the individuals who shaped the Village’s economic landscape, the role religion played in business decisions, and their place in the American economy on both a regional and national level.”
The grant was part of $41.4 million in grants announced by the NEH on Wednesday, July 22 for 81 humanities projects across the country.