The “By the People: Conversations Beyond 250” initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
January 28, 2026 – 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.
Here are just a few of the programs happening across the country. Programs and events from each state, territory, and DC will be added to the Federation’s By the People homepage as they are announced.
In Arizona, Humanities Arizona and the NDN Girls Book Club are holding the second annual Blue Corn Festival, a celebration of local traditions with a particular focus on blue corn as an integral crop to Indigenous foodways in Arizona and the American Southwest.
In Maine, the Maine Humanities Council will hold a special event, “Gather: A Celebration of Maine’s Music and Food.” Featuring performances, a panel discussion, and a community meal, “Gather” will showcase how musical traditions and foodways connect Maine cultures, and explore what they can tell us about our past, present, and future.
The Northern Marianas Humanities Council will hold a a series of civic reflection conversations designed to engage youth and cultural practitioners in exploring various perspectives on the 50-year political union between the people of the Northern Mariana Islands and the US, as well as its future.
In Tennessee, one of Humanities Tennessee’s By the People events is a Growers and Crafters Panel. Local practitioners and scholars will explore 250 years of the civic, social, and economic roles of craftspeople and growers in the creation and evolution of our nation. Panelists will discuss how these groups stand to shape the next chapter of American democracy. What and how will Tennesseans be crafting and growing in the future?
In Alaska, the Alaska Humanities Forum will convene a special cohort of their Storytelling Fellowship. Emerging Alaskan writers will produce nonfiction stories exploring defining moments from the last 250 years that have shaped Alaska. At the conclusion of the program, Fellows’ stories will be published in FORUM Magazine, and the Forum will host a free public reading and storytelling event in August 2026.
Humanidades Puerto Rico will hold a festival celebrating Puerto Rican Gastronomic Heritage, inspired by the legacy of a beloved Puerto Rican food historian.
Throughout 2026, Nevada Humanities will invite Nevadans across the state to share and celebrate their diverse food traditions through its new program called “Around the Table,” a series of public events and creative reflections that explore Nevada foodways, food traditions, and expressive culture throughout the Silver State.
Georgia Humanities’ program is “Porch Songs, Public Voices,” a traveling series that visits three Georgia towns, using music, movement, and local traditions to bring people together for shared experience and conversation.
These are just a few of the programs and event that 51 humanities councils will hold in their states and territories as part of the By the People initiative.
“This partnership amplifies the voices of everyday Americans and the cultural practices that define them,” says Phoebe Stein, the Federation’s president. “It’s a celebration of the humanities as a living, breathing force in our country—one that brings people together to listen, learn, and build.”
To keep up with By the People news, visit the By the People homepage, subscribe to the Federation’s newsletter or follow the Federation on social media.
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About the Federation of State Humanities Councils
Founded in 1977, the Federation of State Humanities Councils (Federation) is the membership organization of the 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils. The Federation supports, connects, and amplifies the work and voices of our members, demonstrating councils’ value for communities and their collective impact on civic health and cultural vibrancy. The Federation envisions a fully resourced, inclusive, and thriving humanities council network. Learn more about the Federation and its member councils at statehumanities.org.
About Humanities Councils
There are 56 humanities councils—one in every state, territory, and the District of Columbia. These nonpartisan 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations were established in 1971 by Congress to make outstanding public humanities programming accessible to everyday Americans in all communities across the United States. For over five decades, councils have received federal funding from Congress through the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Learn more about humanities councils at .statehumanities.org/about-humanities-councils/
About the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
The Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage promotes greater understanding and sustainability of cultural heritage across the United States and around the world through research, education, and community engagement. The center is a research and educational unit of the Smithsonian that produces the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, the Cultural Vitality Program, the online Folklife Magazine, exhibitions, symposia, publications, and educational materials. It also maintains the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections. Learn more at festival.si.edu.
