PRESS RELEASE

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Awards the Federation of State Humanities Councils with $1.7 Million for “Democracy and the Informed Citizen”

A national grant program that examines what it means to be an informed citizen in today’s society

ARLINGTON, VA – 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 to enrich understanding of local and national issues and to inspire an engaged citizenry. The Federation invites all member councils to submit proposals. An RFP will be distributed summer 2017 and grant awards announced in November.

“We are thrilled to receive these funds from Mellon for Democracy and the Informed Citizen, which will enable the state humanities council network to develop programs uniquely tailored to their communities and that answer questions raised across the country regarding journalism, engaged citizenship, and democracy,” said Esther Mackintosh, Federation president, “Councils have a distinguished record of implementing meaningful programs that bring people together around difficult, and at times, divisive topics through the use of the humanities. The most recent example, and one that paved the way for this initiative, is the collaboration between the state humanities councils and the Pulitzer Prizes.”

The genesis of Democracy and the Informed Citizen was inspired by the Federation’s recent partnership with the Pulitzer Prizes on its centennial Campfires initiative and the more than 700 events commemorating the milestone hosted by councils across the country. In 2016, as questions related to journalism and the media increased throughout the presidential campaign and in other events, the Federation and Pulitzer again collaborated to develop a new opportunity for programs designed to examine what it means to be an informed citizen in a democracy. As with the Campfires programs, councils will draw on Pulitzer Prize winners and finalists, and Pulitzer Prize-winning works, to explore how the humanities and journalism help develop depth, perspective, and understanding of important issues affecting communities and the nation.

More details and information on the Democracy and the Informed Citizen grants will be forthcoming.

 

ABOUT THE FEDERATION OF STATE HUMANITIES COUNCILS

The Federation of State Humanities Councils, founded in 1977 as the membership association of state and territorial councils, provides support for the state humanities councils and strives to create greater awareness of the humanities in public and private life. For more information about the Federation of State Humanities Councils, please visit: www.statehumanities.org

 

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