Public: An Idea That Can't Be Lost

In 1965 Congress established the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as an independent federal agency to promote and support the humanities. I always find the founding legislation grounding and inspiring. Among other things it argues, 

"Democracy demands wisdom and vision in its citizens. It must therefore foster and support a form of education, and access to the arts and the humanities, designed to make people of all backgrounds and wherever located masters of their technology and not its unthinking servants." 

Embedded in the intent of establishing the NEH (and the National Endowment for the Arts), is something that often gets lost: the idea that the arts and the humanities should be public. That is, these things are not - and should not be - realms reserved for elite, "high society" people but rather, for everyone. 

This is, in part, why every state and territory has a designated nonprofit humanities organization dedicated to ensuring local access to the humanities. Illinois Humanities is our state’s partner for the National Endowment for the Humanities. We are the ones charged with ensuring the humanities are accessible to all residents in the state. In practice this means two things: Firstly, it makes our mission crystal clear. Secondly, it means we receive funding every year to deliver on our mission. 

NEH funding comprises about 20% of our annual budget. These are critical dollars. They serve as the "tip of the spear" to let us raise additional funds from governmental sources, private foundations, and individuals. They ensure we are able to provide local programs and grants throughout Illinois. By many measures we are delivering on our mission (and that investment!) every day. Last year alone we provided 409 free public programs in communities across every Illinois congressional district. 

Visits with our Illinois delegates in Washington not only let us share what is happening with federal dollars in their districts, it also gives us a chance to learn about the ways in which our state’s policymakers are working to deliver on the ambitions and needs of the people THEY represent. For example, learning that supporting people who are returning to their communities after being incarcerated gave me a chance to share our Envisioning Justice work with one representative and ensure that his team is invited to future programs.

I'm about to board a plane to head back to DC to meet with members of the Illinois Delegation I wasn't able to connect with during my first visit and to participate in Humanities on the Hill in partnership with colleagues from around the country.

During my visits this week I will say thank you for the past support. I will share stories of how funds we receive from the federal government are used in Illinois to make grants, create exhibits, design and deliver free community events, and provide educational offerings.

And I’ll remind them, as best I can, of the original intention of these investments: to equip our residents with the wisdom and vision we need for a democratic society. 

Illinois Humanities is unwavering in our commitment to delivering on this mandate as a service to the public. We see every day, firsthand, the ways in which coming together to talk about issues that matter, to reflect on the questions that shape our lives and inform our experiences, help us to find our common purpose.

And I'll let them know that, if needed, we are on call to help make the case about why the public humanities matter for the well-being of our residents. Because we can't have a state—or country—that is wise, just, visionary, and connected, without the humanities.