Mission – our fundamental purpose
Rhode Island Humanities seeds, supports, and strengthens public history, cultural heritage, civic education, and community engagement by and for all Rhode Islanders.
Vision – our aspirations and hopes for the future
Rhode Island Humanities will contribute to the development of an inclusive culture of belonging for all people in Rhode Island, while actively encouraging Rhode Islanders to engage with the complexity of the state’s history, current challenges, and future possibilities. We are committed to drawing in and amplifying many voices to explore historical and contemporary issues, as well as celebrating multifaceted perspectives and approaches. We seek to inspire participation in community, promote conversation and difficult dialogues, and establish the basis for shared understanding that also acknowledges differences.
Values – Relevance, Collaboration, and Community
Relevance: Our work will address needs identified within the cultural sector and promote models for the practice of public humanities. We’re committed to learning and adapting in order to best serve the state.
Collaboration: Rhode Island Humanities believes that strong partnerships with other organizations and humanities practitioners can expand reach and collective impact. We aim to connect individuals and organizations in the cultural sector in meaningful and forward-looking ways. Our collaborations and partnerships will be based on shared commitment, trust, clear definitions and organizational structures, and mutual benefits. We prioritize collaborations and partnerships that create greater equity in and through the humanities.
Community: Rhode Island Humanities seeks to be welcoming, inclusive, and accessible to the perspectives and experiences of Rhode Islanders. We emphasize the importance of participation in humanities, arts, and cultural activities for Rhode Island’s overall civic health.
Learn more by reading By and For All Rhode Islanders: Rhode Island Humanities Strategic Plan 2023 – 2026.
How We Do Our Work
Grantmaking: RI Humanities has one major grant deadline for awards up to $12,000 and four mini grant deadlines for awards up to $2,000 each year. Currently, we award an average of $175,000 each year through 30-35 grants. NEW! In 2024, RI Humanities also launched the THRIVE Grantmaking program for general operating support grants to small cultural heritage organizations and local historical and preservation societies. Staff provides advice from idea to application and helps to connect applicants to scholars and civic and cultural organizations throughout the state to add value and impact. Explore our grantmaking guidelines.
Humanities Initiatives & Partnerships: Long- and short-term initiatives spark new ways of using the humanities to address pressing challenges in Rhode Island. Recent initiatives include the award-winning 2022 Rhode Island Civic Health Index and Culture is Key. RI Humanities also collaborates with partners to bring together resources, expertise, networks and audiences to seed new approaches, support larger initiatives, and strengthen the humanities sector. Learn more about our partnership programs, including Rhode Tour and RI Expansion Arts.
Internships: RI Humanities has a strong commitment to offering opportunities for the next generation of public humanities professionals through our internships. Interns come from diverse backgrounds to be mentored by staff members as they support and enhance our efforts to engage the public, activate our archive of 50 years of public humanities projects in Rhode Island, conduct research to collect and analyze data about the humanities, and enhance our evaluative practices. RI Humanities has hosted interns from nearly all colleges and universities in Rhode Island and several in nearby Massachusetts.
Join Us
- Participate: Attend a humanities event near you or apply for a grant to support your next public humanities project. Use the Rhode Tour app and share it with visitors. Listen to our podcasts. Support our grantees by attending their lectures, performances, and exhibits throughout the state.
- Advocate: Show your support for the humanities by telling policymakers and legislators why the humanities matter. Write a letter, email, or tweet and share your story.
- Donate: Your gift to the RI Humanities is a gift to every community in the state! Seed, support, and strengthen public history, cultural heritage, and civic engagement by contributing today.
History
RI Humanities was established in 1973 as an independent state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), which was founded in 1965 thanks to the leadership of Rhode Island’s own late Senator Claiborne Pell. A private nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, RI Humanities is supported by federal funds from NEH as well as by individuals, corporations, and foundations. We are one of 56 humanities councils found in every state and U.S. territory.
As the only dedicated source of funding for public humanities in Rhode Island, we are proud to support museums, libraries, historic sites, schools, preservation and historical societies, community and cultural organizations, individual researchers and documentary filmmakers to bring Rhode Island’s stories to life and to amplify the state’s many diverse voices.
When the organization was first founded in 1973, it was originally named the Rhode Island Committee for the Humanities, a typical practice for the newly formed committees/councils across the country. Over time, the name was changed to Rhode Island Council for the Humanities. As of our 50th anniversary year (2023), our organization is known as Rhode Island Humanities.
