The National Endowment for the Humanities has designated the Iowa Humanities Council as its interim state humanities partner. In this new role, the department will work with constituents to serve and strengthen the humanities in Iowa.
The National Endowment for the Humanities' enabling legislation states that "the term ‘humanities’ includes, but is not limited to, the study and interpretation of the following:
- language, both modern and classical;
- linguistics;
- literature;
- history;
- jurisprudence;
- philosophy;
- archaeology;
- comparative religion;
- ethics;
- the history, criticism and theory of the arts;
- those aspects of social sciences which have humanistic content and employ humanistic methods;
- the study and application of the humanities to the human environment with particular attention to reflecting our diverse heritage, traditions, and history and to the relevance of the humanities to the current conditions of national life.”
Grants
With funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the interim state humanities partner is investing in humanities programs that foster discussion, promote civic engagement and learning, and support the recovery of the humanities sector across Iowa.
- The Humanities Project Grant round is now open. Applications are due August 15, 2024. Funded projects can get underway November 1, 2024.
- Humanities Project Grants offer support for public humanities projects that encourage contemplation, spark conversation and engage the community. Eligible projects will use the humanities as the central resource to involve and benefit diverse groups of Iowans through educational programming that explore the human experience. View the program details for guidelines and link to the online application.
Current grant recipients can access the program guidelines, final report forms and grantee handbook at the links below.
- FY23 Humanities Collaboration Grant Program Guidelines
- FY23 Humanities Partnership Grant Final Report
- FY25 Humanities Project Grant
- Grantee Handbook
Please note: Eligible applicants may apply for and receive up to one grant award through the interim state humanities partner, per fiscal year, in addition to applying for and receiving up to one grant award through other State Historical Society of Iowa grant programs.
Programs
The State Historical Society of Iowa will seek input from Iowa’s humanities sector and national peer groups to develop programming that meets the current needs of the field in the state.
Connect
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Contact
For general inquiries about Iowa’s interim state humanities partner, please contact iowa.humanities@iowa.gov.
For information about grants, reports or programs administered by Iowa’s previous humanities council, please contact the National Endowment for the Humanities directly at questions@neh.gov.