Federation of State Humanities Councils

The National Humanities Conference is always such a robust reminder that a) we’re not alone in the highs and lows of this VITAL work, and b) I have some reeeeally cool colleagues doing AMAZING things across the country/world! Can’t wait to get back into the office and compare notes of learnings and inspirations with my Georgia Humanities comrades! ?? Huge ‘thank you’ to Rhode Island Council for the Humanities for being such gracious hosts, and, as ever, to the Federation of State Humanities Councils, the National Humanities Alliance, and the National Endowment for the Humanities for facilitating and supporting this annual convening! ???? And a special ‘thank you’ to Chair Shelly C. Lowe for being such a fierce leader and inspirational force in her work at NEH! ????

“This isn’t a time to live in fear, to close ourselves off to the world. This is a time to be brave. To ask questions and seek answers and build the world you want, the world you’ve always wanted.” Thank you, Chair Shelly C. Lowe, for joining us at the National Humanities Conference last week and sharing these inspiring words. National Endowment for the Humanities #humanities #NHCRI24

Friday was another packed day at the National Humanities Conference. After second full day of thought-provoking sessions, we made our way to the historic First Baptist Meeting House for the Schwartz Prize presentation and a stirring address from the Meeting House's Rev. Jamie P. Washam. This was followed by our annual Capps Lecture, a vital discussion between Loren Spears, Akeia de Barros Gomes, Linford D. Fisher, and moderator Mack Scott.

We are thrilled to announce the winners of the 2024 Schwartz Prize for outstanding work in the public humanities. --Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities for the Institute for Louisiana Culture and History-- --Humanities Montana for The Democracy Project-- --Wisconsin Humanities for Community Powered-- “These award-winning projects reflect the power of the public humanities and the deep community engagement at the core of humanities council work,” said Phoebe Stein, President of the Federation of State Humanities Councils. “Each project, in its own unique way, furthers education, access, and community health at the local level in ways that can inspire us nationally, even globally. My sincere congratulations to all.” Learn more about the winners and the Schwartz Prize here: https://lnkd.in/eaCQr-mE

We opened the 2024 National Humanities Conference last night with a fascinating plenary from Marisa Angell Brown of the Providence Preservation Society and a poem based on the conference theme written by Rhode Island's Youth Poetry Ambassadors, Seoyon Kim and Jacquelyn Song. Then we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street program with a lively reception.

Learning from Providence Preservation Society’s Marisa Angell Brown about past and present challenges around development, urban renewal, and arts and humanities workers in Providence #NHC24RI Federation of State Humanities Councils National Humanities Alliance Rhode Island Council for the Humanities

The Federation of State Humanities Councils , the National Humanities Alliance, and host council Rhode Island Council for the Humanities will be convening at the 2024 National Humanities Conference Nov. 13-17 in Providence, RI. Humanities professionals across the nation are coming together for various workshops, info sessions, panels and more! For details, visit https://ow.ly/hBBk50U6iG5

So excited to welcome 800+ humanists to Providence this week! The National Humanities Conference is underway ?? #humanities Federation of State Humanities Councils #NHCRI24 National Humanities Alliance Rhode Island Council for the Humanities

In observance of Veterans Day, Federation offices are closed today. Thank you to our service members, past and present. Our national monuments provide a physical space where veterans, their families, and the general public can reflect on service and sacrifice. In 2020, the National Native American Veterans Memorial opened on the grounds of the National Museum of the American Indian. It is the first national memorial or monument to recognize the service and contributions of Native Americans in all branches of the US military. The NNAVM was designed by Vietnam veteran Harvey Pratt (Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma). The circular design “suggests a sacred circle, the cycles of time and life, and the movement of the stars and planets.” You can learn more about the National Native American Veterans Memorial at https://lnkd.in/g4nWWF8. Photo Credit: Michael Perrin via Wikimedia Commons

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Smithsonian Institution Travelling Exhibition Service's Museum on Main Street (MoMS) Program. While looking through our files, we came across these photos from the MoMS *10th* anniversary celebration in 2004. The program's reach and impact has only grown in the 20 years since these photos were taken, and we're so proud of the incredible work of our member councils as they continue bringing MoMS exhibitions and programs to their rural communities. Since 1994, MoMS has visited more than 1,900 communities with a median population of 8,000 across all 50 states and Gu?han. This deeply impactful work is accomplished the through their unique partnership with the state and jurisdictional humanities councils. We plan to celebrate their 30th anniversary at the National Humanities Conference Opening Reception, which is sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution in honor of MoMS. If you can't join us in person, celebrate by visiting a MoMS exhibition near you, exploring their online stories, or listening to their podcast, Smithsonian's Stories from Main Street. Many of the rural communities MoMS serves have been hard hit by recent natural disasters, and our celebration of the 30th anniversary is a good moment to remember our friends and colleagues who are still recovering and rebuilding.