Who We Are



The Rhode Island Council for the Humanities is an independent, not-for-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).


The Rhode Island Council for the Humanities is an independent, not-for-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The Council was founded in 1973, guided by the belief that the study of the humanities* is central to the life and work of a free and diverse people.

We support scholars, filmmakers, writers, oral historians. We invest in libraries, museums, historical societies, community organizations. We are the only source of public funding for humanities projects in Rhode Island, and our grants have supported more than 1,100 organizations throughout the state.

In addition to grantmaking, our Council brings together diverse audiences across Rhode Island to engage in public discourse about the social and cultural issues that shape our lives.

Our Values
As an organization, we believe in the following values:

  • Collaboration – The greatest results come from the combined efforts of diverse groups and organizations. We reach out to others across the state and work cooperatively to achieve our shared goals.
  • Transformation – Imagination has the power to change lives. Our work is about positive transformation in the lives of all Rhode Islanders.
  • Excellence – We hold ourselves to high standards of integrity and of performance in all that we do and expect the same of the organizations with which we work.
  • Equity – We work toward removing barriers to participation in our programs and services.
  • Wonder – We approach our work with hopefulness and aspiration. We are curious and eager to incorporate new learning into our work.

Our Accomplishments

  • For more than 35 years we have been funding and developing programs that encourage Rhode Islanders to learn about the state’s history and culture and to reflect on the role humanities play in current times.
  • We have invested more than 3 million dollars in individuals and organizations throughout the state.
  • We support filmmakers, writers, oral historians. We invest in libraries, museums, historical societies, community organizations. Our grants have supported more than 1,100 organizations throughout the state.
  • Through programs like Action Speaks, we help bring together diverse audiences across Rhode Island to engage in public conversations about the social and cultural issues that shape our lives.
  • Our Speakers Bureau, EnRICHment Opportunities, features a wide and diverse range of topics like culture and community, immigrant stories, ghosts and vampires, military history, school reform. We can coordinate speakers to present to your organization, classroom, or workplace.
  • In 2007, our work reached into every county in the state and impacted more than 275,000 Rhode Islanders.





 



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