More on Public Humanities Programs

Native American performer and lecturer Frank Little Bear visited a Wayne County library. Photo credit: Mitchel Legrand.

• Engage individuals in discussion as a way to learn from others. The discussion formats might be a question-and-answer session after a lecture, a public meeting led by a panel of scholars, or a hands-on workshop where participants are sharing ideas.
  
  
• Place humanities scholars and other experts in a central role in shaping programs. PHC defines a "humanities scholar" as someone with a graduate degree in a humanities field and/or someone who has other scholarly experience in the humanities.
  
  
• Involve community members in planning programs. Potential audience members should have a voice in shaping an event that genuinely appeals to their interests and inspires their community to experience new knowledge and perspectives.
  
  
• Are designed for members of the general public. PHC grants are not for programs intended specifically for scholars or a university audience.
  
  
• Explore meaningful and relevant issues in an open-ended manner. Programs should help participants develop their own educated opinions as they analyze and interpret ideas and themes raised by the topic or the event.

• Humanities Grants: For programs designed by nonprofits committed to lifelong learning
• Humanities-and-the-Arts Grants: For programs that use the humanities to increase public appreciation of the arts
• Arts Commentary Awards: For nonfiction work that educates the public about the contemporary arts
• PCA's website: For more on the Council's initiatives, partnerships, and responsive funding programs