We are pleased to officially announce the start of “By the People: Conversations Beyond 250.”
By the People is a series of community-driven programs created by 51 humanities councils across the United States 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.
“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.”
Learn more at statehumanities.org/bythepeople
@smithsonianfolklife #bythepeople #humanitiescouncils #humanities
It's Humanities Councils Week. Check out 56 Councils making an impact across the US.
Millions of people benefit from their state or jurisdiction’s Humanities Council—often without realizing it.
These nonprofits provide key support for cultural programming across the country.
From free college-level courses for veterans in New Jersey to reading workshops for families in Nebraska, Humanities Councils enrich countless lives.
From October 20-24, 2025, we’re partnering with the Federation of State Humanities Councils (@humfed ) to bring stories from the Councils to you.
Stay tuned throughout the week to learn about your local Council.
#MyHumanitiesCouncil
📷 courtesy of @oregonhumanities , @mshumanitiescouncil , @va_humanities , @pahumanities , and @humanidadespr
New podcast alert! Listen to our new show about public humanities making an impact on everyday people.
“Humanities =“ is a podcast about real people, organizations, and and communities making a real difference through the humanities.
The first three episodes are now available to listen wherever you get your podcasts or on our website at statehumanities.org/podcast
“Healing through Prison Programs” features stories from the @mshumanitiescouncil and Ritual4Return (a grantee of @humanitiesny and the New Jersey Council for the Humanities).
“Veterans and the Power of Conversation” features stories about veteran discussion groups from @humanitiestexas and @mihumanities
“Families That Read Together” features stories on family reading programs from @humanitiesne and @coloradohumanities
#podcast #humanities #veterans #publichumanities #makinganimpact #makingadifferencetogether #humanitiescouncil
Last night, Federation staff (Phoebe and Robin) attended Congressional Record 2026, an annual bipartisan event at the US Capitol that celebrates the positive impact that music and arts education and cultural preservation have on all communities and showcases the musical talents of members of Congress.
The Federation was proud to be a sponsor of this unifying event.
Pictured:
Federation President Phoebe Stein and Americans for the Arts CEO Erin Harkey. @americans4arts
Federation President Phoebe Stein and Government and External Relations Manager Robin Hwang
Representatives Jared Huffman (CA), Becca Balint (VT), and Sean Casten (IL) perform together.
Congressman Mark Messner (IN) on the trumpet.
Congressman Maxwell Frost (FL) on the drums.
@cong_record
MHC invites proposals from working Minnesota poets, individuals, or organizations currently mentoring youth in the arts to serve as Poetry Mentors for Voices Forward, a youth poetry and public humanities initiative commemorating the Semiquincentennial. More info on mnhum.org and submit applications to [email protected] by May 8.
Get ready for an unforgettable celebration of music, culture, and community this Saturday!
We’ve been hard at work preparing for our showcase of son jarocho and mariachi featuring Central Washington heritage artists, and we can't wait to share it with you. Come listen, learn, and watch as the rhythms, stories, and traditions are brought to life this Saturday, April 25th at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center.
Check out the video for a sneak peek of the music you’ll experience! RSVP at the link in our bio/event page.
"By the People: Conversations Beyond 250" is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
@wvmuseum@humfed@smithsonianfolklife@smithsonian@wacultures
#humanities #history
An Update on the Federation’ lawsuit against NEH and DOGE. Read the full statement on our website at statehumanities.org/news.
On April 17, the Federation of State Humanities Councils (Federation) and Oregon Humanities filed a motion for summary judgment in their case against the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) seeking to void the unlawful mass grant terminations and enjoin the agency from again violating the Constitution and NEH statutes. The lawsuit was filed in federal district court in Oregon. A ruling could come as early as this summer.
Join the nationwide exploration of 250 years of America’s cultural life and imagining our shared future, “By The People: Conversations Beyond 250.” Through community-driven programs across the country, this series brings people together to celebrate heritage, storytelling, and the arts.
Here in Washington, the three-part series kicks off with “Traditions in Dialogue (Mexican Music)” on Saturday, April 25, 7 PM at the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center.
Members of the Mariachi Estrellas del Valle and the Hunter family will participate in an evening filled with the vibrant sounds and stories of mariachi and son jarocho. There will be a lively conversation, plus a demonstration and public Q&A – inviting you to engage with the richness and diversity of cultural traditions in America.
The first in a three-part series by Humanities Washington, this program features artists from WA Cultures - Washington’s Heritage Arts Apprenticeship Program, highlighting the connections between heritage arts and the communities that sustain them. Watch for details about the Seattle event in July featuring Pacific Northwest native weavers, and the Spokane event in August featuring Iu-Mien dance and Mongolian folk music.
Learn more and RSVP here for the April 25 event! /52tn379m
By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils across the U.S., 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 Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage - Smithsonian Folklife as a complement to the 2026 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
@smithsonianfolklife@humfed@wvmuseum@wacultures
#ByThePeople2026 #SmithsonianFolklife #2026Folklife #MyHumanitiesCouncil
Access to local journalism has been declining for years now. @humanitiesdc ‘s Community Journalism Program addresses this pressing need by training Washington, D.C., residents in the discipline of journalism so they can tell the stories that matter most to them and their neighbors.
On the latest episode of our podcast, Humanities =, hear from Lois Nembhard at HumanitiesDC, Lead Journalist Trainer @gkjcreates , and participant @carolyntoye about how the program works and why it’s needed now more than ever.
Listen at statehumanities.org/podcast, via our link in bio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
We’re proud to partner with the Federation of State Humanities Councils for Congressional Record 2026! Join us on May 13 as we come together to celebrate the power of the arts and humanities.
Their work brings stories, history, and culture to life in communities across the country. Through their commitment to the humanities, they spark conversation, foster understanding, and help connect us all.
REMINDER: apply by March 16! MHC announces the launch of two programs that highlight and uplift the work of youth poets in MN: Voices Forward (an initiative under the By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 program) and the MN Youth Poet Laureate. Both applications can be found on our website at mnhum.org
Last week, Federation staff were invited to the Smithsonian Institution Exhibits facility in Maryland for a special preview of “Americans,” the newest @sitesexhibitions Museum on Main Street traveling exhibition.
Humanities councils partner with Museum on Main Street to bring their modular exhibitions to small towns across the country and support locally-designed humanities programming in each town.
Right now, @humanitieskansas and @kyhumanities are hosting “Americans” in their states.
Learn more and see a list of tour locations here: /americans
