The Federation of State Humanities Councils announces the election of William Tsutsui as chair and three new members to its board of directors, effective November 4, 2017.

Indiana Humanities wins the 35th annual Schwartz Prize award for “Next Indiana Campfires,” a program that confronts questions of place, environmental stewardship, and identity through literature, hiking, and conversation.

The Federation of State Humanities Councils’ 2017 Nominating Committee announced a slate of three candidates for the Federation board to be brought to the membership for a vote at the annual business meeting in November.

The 2017 Annual Business Meeting of the Federation House of Delegates will take place at the 2017 National Humanities Conference on Saturday, November 4, from 4:15 to 5:15 pm, at the Hyatt Regency Boston.

On August 2, 2017, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) announced awards of more than $39.3 million for 245 humanities projects nationwide that will support local cultural organizations and individual scholars. Of that $39.3 million, $785,907 in grants were awarded to three state humanities councils: Alabama Humanities Foundation, Indiana Humanities, and Michigan Humanities Council.

The Federation of State Humanities Councils seeks a Researcher/Writer to gather program descriptions, evaluations, impact studies, and other resources through council websites and documents, surveys, and interviews. The aim of the research is to contribute to a series of briefing documents explaining state humanities council work and the value of the humanities to the public. The project is supported by funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Based on audited information supplied by councils, the income survey report provides valuable information about the sources of council support each year, as well as funding trends over time.

The Federation of State Humanities Councils seeks a team-oriented individual to fill the position of Communications & Events Coordinator. The Communications & Events Coordinator will be a part of a small, flexible, and collegial staff committed to serving the councils. This is an entry-level, full-time position with benefits.

Calling all outstanding work in the public humanities! The Schwartz Prize nominations call is now out. Please submit nominations by Wednesday, August 23, 2017. The winner(s) will be announced at the 2017 National Humanities Conference.

The Federation of State Humanities Councils has been awarded $1.7 million by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for a new national grant program, Democracy and the Informed Citizen, which will examine the critical role of journalism and the power of the humanities.

This two-part initiative will collect data and impact stories from councils to create an easily accessible archive of images, content, and videos for long-term public use.

On May 16, 2017, Valorie Walters, executive officer for the Division of the Chickasaw Cultural Center, Chickasaw Nation and board member, Oklahoma Humanities Council, gave testimony on behalf of the Oklahoma Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities

Prepared for the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies by Esther Mackintosh, President, Federation of State Humanities Councils, Addressing the National Endowment for the Humanities, May 26, 2017.

Prepared for the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies by Esther Mackintosh, President, Federation of State Humanities Councils, Addressing the National Endowment for the Humanities, May 24, 2017.

NEH awards more than $1.6 million to seven state humanities councils: Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, Texas, Virgin Islands and Virginia.