Humanities Councils Serve all Americans
Councils serve every state and territory, benefiting millions of Americans every year.
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By the People: Conversations Beyond 250
By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils across the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia in collaboration with local partners. Together, these programs explore 250 years of the nation’s cultural life and imagine its shared future.
Cinco de Mayo parade in Mount Vernon, WA. Photo courtesy of Humanities Washington/WACultures.
Humanities Councils Serve Your Community
Federal investment in humanities councils has a direct impact locally in nearly every US legislative district. This public-private partnership means councils double the impact of each dollar received in federal funding with a matching ratio of 2 to 1, often more. (Photo: Humanities Montana)
Humanities Councils Serve All of America
More than 80% of councils collaborate with rural communities to create exhibits and programs to highlight and preserve unique local histories. Councils invest in heritage organizations across the
nation to strengthen ties between residents. (Photo: Virginia Humanities)
Humanities Councils Serve All Americans
Council programs benefit all Americans, including seniors, parents with young children, students, and teachers. More than 60% of councils deliver programs that serve veterans, active-duty military, and their families. (Photo: Georgia Humanities)
Humanities Councils Serve American Institutions
Councils are already planning activities for the nation’s 250th. Leaders in their state 250th commissions, councils are connect people through speakers, discussions, and free public programs in libraries and museums. Documentary films, local exhibits, online encyclopedias, and oral history projects will preserve and tell these stories for generations.
Maryland students participate in National History Day. Photo courtesy of Maryland Humanities.
Humanities = Supporting HBCU Scholarship
Virginia Humanities’ HBCU Scholars Fellowship supports faculty and alumni of HBCUs by giving these humanities scholars time to focus on research projects. In this episode, we speak with current HBCU Scholars Fellow Dr. Monika Rhue and Virginia Humanities’ Yosef Medina, who runs the program.
51 Humanities Councils Join National Initiative to Explore the 250th through Community-Driven Cultural Programs
By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by 51 humanities councils across the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia in collaboration with local partners. Together, these programs explore 250 years of the nation’s cultural life and imagine its shared future. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
Federation Statement on Passage of Level Funding for NEH and Humanities Councils
On January 15, the Senate passed the 2026 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which includes level funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the humanities councils—$207 million for the NEH, with $65 million of that budget allocated to the 56 state and territorial humanities councils. The bill will now go to the President for his signature.
