RI Humanities

Top 10 from 2020 – Mobilizing the Humanities to Meet the Moment

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In 2020, the Humanities Council met the needs of our community to ensure Rhode Islanders could continue engaging with the humanities in meaningful and safe ways at a time when we needed connection more than ever. Here are our top 10 from 2020 as we look ahead to a New Year and wish you all a healthy and safe holiday season. 

  1. We distributed $547,075 through 95 grants resulting in 118 events in 22 different locations and online. 
  2. We supported 16 project grants to document the pandemic through virtual and in-person programming compatible with social distancing. 
  3. The Rhode Island Expansion Arts Program provided $42,000 to cultural heritage organizations through 28 emergency relief grants. 
  4. Our XIX: Shall Not Be Denied partnership initiative united 30 organizations with shared vision and values in marking the centennial of women’s suffrage. 
  5. With support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Federation of State Humanities Councils, and the Rhode Island Foundation we launched the Culture is Key initiative supporting a Fellow and five pilot projects to explore how to deepen the civic impacts of cultural programs. 
  6. We distributed 28 issues of our bi-monthly e-newsletter Humanities In Context to offer news of the Council’s grants, initiatives, and events to over 4,000 readers along with curated humanities content that is a springboard for reflection, learning, and action.
  7. Tours and stories were added to our Rhode Tour app and website which has over 40,000 users.
  8. We continued to provide in-person and virtual internship and service learning opportunities for students seeking experience in the humanities sector.
  9. We had a 50% increase in donors to our Annual Fund for the Humanities! Thank you for your continued support and participation.
  10. The Celebration of the Humanities honored humanities leadership, creativity, innovation, and scholarship with a virtual program that drew nearly 800 viewers proving that even when we cannot gather in the same physical space, Rhode Island’s humanities community is a force that lifts the spirits!

We could not have accomplished all of this without your support. Thank you. 

If you feel inspired to include the Humanities Council in your end-of-year giving, make a donation online here. With a gift of $50 or more by December 31st, our gift to you is the Council’s limited edition face mask.