Vermont Community Immigration History Grants

The Vermont Historical Society (VHS) is partnering with the Lost Mural Project to award (5) Community Immigration History Grants, each in the amount of $500.00. Up to Two (2) grants will be available for work completed during 2025. Three (3) more will be funded after September 1, 2025, with work to be completed during 2025-2026. VHS is administering the application and selection process for these grants on behalf of the Lost Mural Project.

A Lost Mural Project grant recipient must focus on the history of immigration at the local or state level. Projects can include activities such as exhibits, publications, talks/presentations, videos, oral histories, student projects, digital collections, etc. A version of the project must be able to be published on the Lost Mural Project's website. Priority will be given to projects that focus on art that is representative of Vermont’s immigrant history, as well as Vermont’s Jewish history.

The recipient’s work product must indicate that the work was sponsored by the Lost Mural Project, with a mural photo and caption provided for their use.

The application is available online only from the Vermont Historical Society (see below for link). Nonprofit organizations or municipalities in Vermont are eligible to apply. Applications for the two 2025 grants will be reviewed starting on August 1, 2025. Applications for the 2025-2026 grants will be reviewed starting on August 25, with the application open until all grants have been awarded.  

We will do our best to let all applicants know the status of application approval or rejection within 1 month of their application. Applications may be held longer, however, dependent on the number of applications and the strength of projects. We intend to award all grant money by April 1, 2026. Only one grant will be given to an organization.

The Lost Mural is representative of an art form that was once prevalent in Eastern Europe and is a rare surviving example of a painted wall mural in a synagogue. The Lost Mural Project is dedicated to educating the public about the Lost Mural, the Burlington immigrant Jewish Community, (formerly called “Burlington’s Little Jerusalem”), and all immigrant groups who have found a home either in our region or across the state.

Community Immigration Grant Application
 

Image: The Lost Mural, Burlington, Vermont (Photo courtesy of the Lost Mural Project & Eric Bessette)