When thinking about the humanities, rarely does it call to mind mountain sports, prison life, the environment and political cartoons; but those, among others, are exactly the topics being featured in this month’s state humanities councils’ Campfires programs, part of the Pulitzer Prize Centennial Campfires Initiative. From reading and discussion series to panel discussions with acclaimed journalists to film and documentary screenings, the council campfires programs are reaching diverse groups and stimulating discussion, understanding and community through their programs.
In March, there are more than 40 events and 35 programs being conducted by 20 state humanities councils across the country. Of these, 10 councils are kicking off program series this month and four councils are hosting or co-sponsoring conferences or festivals featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, journalists, poets and works. To view the complete list of March council Campfires events, please check out the Federation’s Spotlight on Pulitzer page.
KICKING OFF THIS MONTH
California Humanities
On the Road with California Humanities
A traveling discussion series that connects Pulitzer Prize winners with notable thinkers who are helping to guide California’s future.
Idaho Humanities Council
Distinguished Humanities Lectures and Dinners
A series of high-profile lectures that will feature three Pulitzer Prize-winning historians exploring the themes of “War and Peace.” The first event takes place in Idaho Falls on March 17.
Mass Humanities
Incarceration and the Common Good
Supported by a Mass Humanities Common Good Reads grant, this Pulitzer Prize Centennial Campfires program is geared toward incarcerated residents and staff at a local prison.
Maryland Humanities Council
Journalism and Its Power to Inform
A series of panel discussions featuring acclaimed journalists and sponsored in part by The Baltimore Sun which will also serve as the host venue.
Maine Humanities Council
Pulitzer Goes to the Movies
A film series presenting films based on Pulitzer Prize-winning works spanning the decades since the Pulitzer was first awarded.
Humanities Montana
Pulitzer Out Loud
Hosted by Slam Poet Champions Anna Paige and Pete Tolton, a diverse cast of community members share Pulitzer Prize-winning poems.
Nevada Humanities
Pop-Up Salon
The Pop-Up Salon is an interactive discussion about sports and adventure journalism that encourages participants to explore new ideas while enjoying refreshments.
South Carolina Humanities
From the Jazz Age to the Digital Age
March begins the taping of three 30-minute televised programs, filmed in front of a live studio audience, featuring Pulitzer Prize winning columnists, commentators, journalists and authors. The segments are expected to air in May.
South Dakota Humanities Council
Pulitzer Programming Kick-Off
Two campus partnerships featuring different Pulitzer Prize winning authors: Elizabeth Fenn (Augustana University in Sioux Falls) and Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin (Black Hills State University in Spearfish).
Virginia Foundation for the Humanities
With Good Reason Pulitzer Series
Throughout 2016, the With Good Reason radio program will air eight half-hour episodes featuring individual Pulitzer Prize winners in conversation with host Sarah McConnell, each interwoven with sound-rich audio clips.
Upcoming Festivals and Conferences
There are four major events taking place this month that feature Pulitzer Prize-winning recipients or works. The first event is the Virginia Festival for the Book, the largest community-based book event in the Mid-Atlantic region attracting audiences of more than 20,000, which will feature two special Pulitzer programs. The festival is produced by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and is a program of the Virginia Center for the Book, an affiliate of the Library of Congress. The programs include a Celebration of Pulitzer Authors where three Pulitzer Prize-winning authors will discuss their Pulitzer-winning work as well as their current writing, and a Celebration of Pulitzer Poets where three Pulitzer-winning poets will read their poems and discuss their work.
The second event is the 7th Annual HYPE (Hosting Young Philosophy Enthusiasts) Day, a conference for high school students led by Souhegan High School Ethics teacher Chris Brooks and hosted by New Hampshire Humanities. A thousand students and 75 teachers are expected to take part.
The third conference is the Oxford Conference for the Book. The Mississippi Humanities Council has sponsored two different sessions that will feature Pulitzer Prize winner Sheri Fink and Edward Larson.
Finally, the Essay in Public Conference: The Way We Work Now, a collaboration with the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, will explore how local reporting and research can best reach the broadest national audience. This is the first in a year-long series of events called “What is the 21st Century Essay?” that explores the intersections of the humanities, journalism, and the environment.
Learn more about the Federation of State Humanities Councils’ partnership with The Pulitzer Prizes and the Centennial Campfires Initiative.
