“We at the Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC), similar to other humanities organizations that comprise the Federation, see ourselves as having three primary roles – convener, connector, and catalyst. All three roles are critically important.” Read more from Kevin Lindsey here.
Interview with Phoebe Stein, New Federation President
It’s been exactly two weeks since we welcomed Phoebe Stein as the new Federation President so we wanted to catch her (in between all the Zoom meetings!) to see how she is doing, what it feels like to begin her leadership during a pandemic, her thoughts about the organization and humanities community as a whole, and finally whether she’s a virtual coffee break or happy hour kind of person!
Humanities At Home: Watch. Documentaries, Digital Shorts, Virtual Theater, and Festivals
Extend your documentary repertoire with several unique offerings from state humanities councils! Films from a wide range of topics such as Responding to COVID, the Veteran Experience, Women’s History and UNLADYLIKE2020, Virtual Theater, Hoosier Film Festival and more, can be found and viewed by just clicking a button. Let us know your thoughts by tagging us on social @HumFed and using #HumanitiesAtHome.
Interview with Delaware Humanities on Virtual Program: Distant Discussions
More than anything else, the humanities inspire empathy. The disciplines and tools allow you to see the world from someone else’s perspective. That’s more important than ever now, especially when we are physically distant.
Interview with Oregon Humanities on Virtual Program: Connect in Place
COVID has illuminated so much of what is already in place and what isn’t in place. And it has raised questions that are clearly rooted in the daily and long-term realities of people’s lives. In this moment, we’re trying to show up as a calm, encouraging, and reliable partner in creating opportunities for people all over Oregon to feel a strong sense of interpersonal connection and shared imagination. Read the full interview with Oregon Humanities Executive Director Adam Davis.
Interview with Humanities Montana on Gather Round / Montana Conversations Virtual Programs
I think the humanities shift our perspective and give us a little bit of distance from current events in a way that lets us engage more. That sounds a little paradoxical, but I’ve found that focusing on stats, curves, protests, and antibody testing can be both overwhelming and narrowing in our understanding and response.
What Our Members Are Saying: Virtual Community Conversations
Last week, we spoke with Oregon Humanities Executive Director Adam Davis, Delaware Humanities Deputy Director and Senior Program Officer Ciera Fisher, and Humanities Montana Program Officer Samantha Dwyer about their recently launched virtual programs to gather their tips for making community conversations, Zoom calls, and other online discussion programs work for their states.
Interview with Esther Mackintosh
After a career dedicated to serving, strengthening and supporting the state humanities councils, Federation President Esther Mackintosh officially retired as of April 30, 2020. The Federation staff was honored to toast to her retirement and to sit down and ask her a few last questions!
11 Tips for Virtual Board Meetings
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!
Humanities At Home: Podcasts and Radio Programs
32 Podcasts on History, Journalism, Literature, and the Human Experience from the State and Territorial Humanities Councils Refresh your audio library and tune into a wide variety of podcasts that use the humanities disciplines to explore important areas of everyday American life. With over 30 different podcasts by councils from across the United States and US territories, there is something for everyone!
Q&A with NASAA President and CEO Pam Breaux
Earlier this week, we checked in with Pam Breaux, the president and CEO of the National Association of State Arts Agencies (NASAA), on the role of the the state art agencies and humanities councils during this crisis, why they are natural partners at this time, and the challenges and needs of the communities we all serve.
Why Funding for the Humanities and Arts Cultural Agencies is Key to America’s Future
Those employed with the task of keeping American culture safe and vibrant carry a great, yet unrecognized burden. And in a crisis such as we now face, it is the proper role of the federal government to preserve the cultural fabric of the nation.
