NEH Emergency Grant Instituto de Cultura Puertorriquena
FAIN: PB-261002-18
Insituto de Cultura Puertorriquena (San Juan, PR 00902-4184)
Freddy Velez (Project Director: December 2017 to November 2019)
The purchase of portable power generators, gasoline, and dehumidifiers, as well as supplies and materials required to care for collections in the General Archive and National Gallery that document the history of Puerto Rico from the 17th through the 20th centuries, including maps, newspapers, photographs, A/V materials, and paintings that were damaged by the lack of climate control due to the blackouts caused by Hurricane Maria.
The Chairman’s Emergency Grant will, in addition to solve the immediate needs of the collections, provide a sustainable long-term solution to expected frequent brownouts after the passing of Hurricanes Irma and María. Puerto Rico’s infrastructure is severely deteriorated.