The 2020 National Humanities Conference, which was going to be held in Indianapolis, IN in November has been canceled due to COVID-19.

In the age of physical distancing, how do you convert and run meetings, such as what was traditionally a multi-day, in-person Board meeting? We checked in with our members and Federation Events Manager Tom Marabello for his input. While some challenges just can’t be helped (poor wifi, unmuted background noise, and those who don’t ‘video conference’), many reported positive experiences overall. Check out the tips and resources and share your experiences!

The Federation of State Humanities Councils is now accepting nominations to its Board of Directors. The 2020 FSHC Nominating Committee is seeking two humanities council executive directors and two public members to fill vacancies that will be left by four retiring board members in November 2020. The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, May 15, 2020.

Now accepting session proposals for the 2020 National Humanities Conference taking place in Indianapolis, IN, November 5-8, 2020. Deadline to submit is Friday, February 21, 2020.

The Federation of State Humanities Councils (FSHC) invites applications for a part-time Project Director of the “Humanities in American Life” initiative. This project builds upon resources developed in 2017-2018 and is designed to expand on and strengthen efforts to educate the public about the value of the humanities in American life.

New Chair and Members Elected to Federation of State Humanities Council Board of Directors: Arizona, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and Rhode Island Represented

“This year’s winners reflect the intimate connections the state and US territory humanities councils have with their people,” said Esther Mackintosh, president of the Federation of State Humanities Councils. “From climate change and sustainability to addiction and recovery, these two programs focused on vastly different audiences and challenges, but were similar in their commitment to address critical issues facing their communities; bringing people together, through the humanities, to acknowledge and respond to their unique needs. We are pleased to present the 2019 Schwartz Prize to both Humanities Guåhan and Ohio Humanities for their outstanding programs.”

“These programs saw significant impact in their local communities, brought people together, promoted understanding and broke down conversation barriers resulting in real change, growth, and empowerment in their states and territories with reverberations that will be felt across the country.” – Esther Mackintosh, FSHC President

Learn more about the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Position, including the full job description.

We encourage all members who are interested in the future and direction of the Federation of State Humanities Councils to attend as it is an excellent time to learn about the accomplishments, challenges, and future needs of the Federation as well as interact with Federation board members, both existing and upcoming, and staff.

The 2019 Annual Business Meeting of the Federation House of Delegates will take place on Saturday, November 9, from 1:00 to 1:55 pm, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki.

The Board of Directors of the Federation of State Humanities Councils announces the retirement of Federation President Esther Mackintosh, effective once a successor is named.

Request for Proposals released for round two of the Mellon-funded, “Democracy and the Informed Citizen” initiative. Letters of Intent are due August 23, 2019.

The Federation of State Humanities Councils is now accepting nominations for the 37th annual Helen and Martin Schwartz Prize, made possible through an endowment established by former Federation board member Martin Schwartz and his wife Helen to recognize outstanding work in the public humanities.

“The councils are uniquely equipped to bring journalists into meaningful conversation with the communities they serve, to help citizens distinguish trustworthy from unreliable news, and to explore the historic role that journalism and the humanities have played in informing Americans,”