Last night, all state humanities councils, including Ohio Humanities, received word that DOGE—the Department of Government Efficiency—has terminated our operating grants. While we don’t yet know the full scope of the damage, we believe most grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) have been or will soon be canceled. Many institutions also received grant terminations today from the Institute … Read More
Ohio Humanities honors four Ohioans and a media outlet with inaugural awards for excellence in the humanities
Ohio Humanities, state legislators honor people and organizations making positive impact across Ohio COLUMBUS, OH—On Wednesday in a ceremony at the Ohio Statehouse, Ohio Humanities honored one organization and four individuals with its inaugural awards for excellence in the public humanities. Toledo-based educational media organization Midstory received the inaugural David Descutner and DeLysa Burnier Award for Excellence in the Humanities. … Read More
ArtistYear launches first Ohio program at Columbus Global Academy with support from ServeOhio and Ohio Humanities
COLUMBUS, OH—ArtistYear, the first national AmeriCorps program dedicated to the arts, is launching its first Ohio program at Columbus Global Academy thanks to support from Ohio Humanities and ServeOhio. Through the program, three AmeriCorps Resident Teaching Artists (RTAs) will spend four days a week using art and creative engagement to teach students at Columbus Global Academy, a Columbus City Schools … Read More
Sacred Soul
The Great Serpent Mound, located in Southern Ohio, is one of the most recognizable effigy mounds in American archaeology. Experts have not yet determined its origins, but many archaeologists believe that it was constructed about 1,000 years ago, significantly later than the Hopewell culture. Although it is not part of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, additional efforts are underway to have … Read More
Ohio Humanities, Wexner Center for the Arts seek submissions for the 2025 Ohio Humanities Film Fellowship
COLUMBUS, OH—The three-year partnership between Ohio Humanities and the Wexner Center for the arts to support Ohio’s robust filmmaking community continues with a call for entries for the 2025 Ohio Humanities Film Fellowship. The fellowship program assists independent filmmakers working on documentaries informed by the humanities around and about Ohio. It provides funding of up to $5000 as well as … Read More
Humanities at Play: Wilfried Nancy
The expressive Frenchman – a one-time professional footballer now coaching the Columbus Crew – stood beaming on the pitch at Lower.com Field, basking in the overwhelming joy of his team’s Major League Soccer championship. On that night in late 2023, in his first year with the Crew, Wilfried Nancy had just become the first Black coach to win an MLS … Read More
Humanities at Play: Toni Shorter Smith
Toni Shorter Smith has championed African-American culture in Ohio in profound ways. Among other work, she mobilized and trained a team of 30 volunteers to research and document African-American settlements in Central Ohio for Columbus Landmarks. She was instrumental in creating the Aminah Robinson Legacy Project with the Columbus Museum of Art, which honors the late artist’s legacy by offering … Read More
Humanities at Play: Mike Carey
Mike Carey was raised on a family farm in Sabina, Ohio, which he credits for instilling in him the values of hard work and community. He earned his history degree from The Ohio State University and followed family tradition by serving as a military officer before spending more than two decades as an advocate for coal miners. Now, he is … Read More
Ohio Humanities announces Descutner-Burnier Awards for Excellence in the Humanities
Annual awards to honor people and organizations making positive impact across the state COLUMBUS, OH—Ohio Humanities is launching a new annual awards program to celebrate people and organizations achieving remarkable success in the humanities in Ohio. The David Descutner and DeLysa Burnier Award for Excellence in the Humanities will recognize individuals and organizations whose outstanding work has positively impacted people … Read More
Saving history through public art
By Alex Corpuz On Juneteenth this year, I made a trip to Athens, Ohio, to see the unveiling of a mural depicting the history of the founding of Mount Zion Baptist Church. Now the Mount Zion Black Cultural Center, the former church is a prominent landmark for the Black community of Athens County. The mural—painted by community members and displayed … Read More