We find the

human
connections

in the humanities

We champion the humanities to spark civic engagement, build community, educate, inspire, and make long-lasting change.

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Special Project

Nominate a Window Keeper!

Who will you nominate? The Window Keeper: Civic Honors is a statewide initiative that recognizes Pennsylvanians whose everyday actions help shape strong communities and sustain civic life through the power of the humanities.

PA Cultural Exchange

PaX is a new and innovative program from PA Humanities that convenes humanities, creative and cultural practitioners. Register for the info webinar on June 16!

Get your PA Humanities mug!

Get your own stylish “Let’s Dream Boldly” mug. Every purchase supports our work, with an option to add an additional donation at checkout.

Voices of History Erie

Voices of History Erie is part of PA Humanities’ Voices of History: Stories from Black Pennsylvanians project, a first-of-its-kind statewide effort to collect and celebrate the stories, family histories, struggles, and triumphs of Black Pennsylvanians in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Rain Poetry Toolkit

Bring the magic of Rain Poetry to your community! Our new toolkit provides the information, templates, and inspiration to create your own Rain Poetry project - from planning and outreach to installation and celebration.

Cultural Dynamics

Cultural Dynamics is a collaborative, community-driven effort to shape Philadelphia’s first Cultural Plan. The process convened artists, cultural workers, institutions, funders, residents, and civic partners to understand what Philadelphia’s cultural sector needs to thrive—and to mobilize the community toward collective action.

Let's Rise: 50th Anniversary Videos

Watch these videos created by Emmy-winning journalist Kelly Dessoye - they are powerful examples of how everyday people across Pennsylvania are using the tools of the humanities to strengthen their lives and communities.

in direct grants since 2020

69

core program sites
in the past 5 years

297

organizations granted funds
in the past 5 years

$2M+

granted in the past 2 years

330

organizations granted funds
in the past two years

73

core program sites
in the past 5 years

the

Education, Featured, News

Getting to know PA Humanities intern Amelia Spielman

A native of Austin, Texas, Amelia Spielman just completed her sophomore year at Haverford College and is double majoring in English and economics. Click to get to know her better.

Featured, News, Special Projects

Community Building, Education, News, Press Release, Special Projects, The Window KEeper

Community Building, Featured, Grantmaking, News, Wingspan

Featured, Grantmaking, News, Storytelling, Wingspan

Research

We contribute our learnings to the larger conversation about the role of the humanities in creating lasting change through major projects, including PA CultureCheck, PA Humanities Discovery Project, and more. We put participatory research at the forefront of all our work and partner with scholars, consultants, and a cross-sector of leaders including Drexel University, University of Pennsylvania’s PennPraxis, Elizabeth Myrick + Associates, and Allegheny Intermediate Unit.

Support Our Work

An independent nonprofit that puts people first, PA Humanities relies on financial support from people like you. As we celebrate our 50th Anniversary, your support will help more Pennsylvanians experience the humanities and put them in action through civic engagement, education, building community, and however they are inspired to make change.

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Jun 4

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Kudos to our executive director, Laurie Zierer, for leading an engaging session at #AFTACON 2026 entitled "From Isolation to Integration: How to Build and Sustain Cross-Sector Collaborations."

AFTACON 2026, presented by @americans4arts, is where artists, administrators, and advocates gather to shape the future of arts and culture and organize for impact. Three and a half days of learning, strategy, and connection — with 1,000+ peers from across the country. ...

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May 28

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Who will you recognize in your community? Nominations are now open for The Window Keeper: Civic Honors, PA Humanities’ statewide initiative celebrating Pennsylvanians whose everyday actions help shape strong communities and sustain civic life through the power of the humanities.

A Window Keeper can be a librarian or educator, or a museum or nonprofit professional expanding access to knowledge and bringing learning into everyday spaces. Perhaps it’s a local historian or archivist preserving community memory. Maybe your Window Keeper is a cultural tradition bearer passing down language, foodways or art. Or a community organizer or small business owner creating spaces for connection.

Everyone knows someone - who is your someone? Nominate them today at PAHumanities.org/TheWindowKeeper

#WindowKeeper #PAWindowKeeper #TheWindowKeeper ...

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May 22

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PA Humanities was honored to premiere Voices of History Erie with @eriesblackwallstreet at @theerieartmuseum, sharing eight moving stories from local Erie residents about family, migration, community care, pride, perseverance, and transformation.

We were grateful to welcome Pulitzer Prize-winning historian @eddafieldsblack, author of COMBEE, for a powerful conversation on preserving history through story.

Huge thanks to our partners @eriesblackwallstreet, Kyra Taylor, Dr. Rhonda Matthews, our community storytellers, filmmaker Morgan Moody, creative director Terrell Robinson, HICAAE, @eriehistory, and @theerieartmuseum.

Voices of History Erie is made possible by funding provided by @erie_insurance, Thomas B. Hagen, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development`s PA Arts and Culture Recovery Program, @padeptofed Job Training and Education Programs Grant, and @eriecommunityfoundation.

All the videos from the premiere will soon be posted at PAHumanities.org/Voices and on @pahumanities’ YouTube channel.

#VoicesOfHistory #VoicesofHistoryErie ...

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May 1

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We’ve officially announced The Window Keeper: Civic Honors, a new statewide 250th initiative from PA Humanities recognizing Pennsylvanians whose everyday actions help shape strong communities and sustain civic life.

❓ Now we’re inviting YOU to be part of it. Who would you nominate? ❓

To participate, follow the link in our bio or visit pahumanities.org/thewindowkeeper

#WindowKeeper #America250

The Window Keeper: Civic Honors initiative is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, Pennsylvania state legislators, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, and individual donor Randall Miller. ...

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