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
Ohio Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission Awards $75,000 in Grants for Holocaust and Genocide Education
COLUMBUS, OH—The Ohio Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission (OHGMEC) has awarded $75,000 in grants to support Holocaust and genocide education across the state. Administered in partnership with Ohio Humanities, a nonprofit organization that shares stories to spark conversations and inspire ideas, this grant program supports eligible non-profit, educational, and governmental organizations in Ohio. Grant recipients provided matching funds … Read More
“Nothing about us, without us”
By Aaron Rovan Ohio Humanities Program Officer Aaron Rovan attended the opening of Great Council State Park earlier this month. Below, he reflects on the event—and previews a new Ohio Humanities-funded podcast that shares the stories of Native Ohioans. On a clear morning in early June, I stood shoulder-to-shoulder in a crowd of hundreds of people in Xenia, a small town near … Read More
New WYSO podcast tells Ohio history from Indigenous perspective
YELLOW SPRINGS, OH—Ohio’s Indigenous people have been largely left out of Ohio history narratives. In WYSO’s latest podcast, “The Ohio Country,” the perspectives of Ohio’s tribal nations are at the center of a refreshed version of Ohio’s complicated history. The 12-episode series, which launches July 2 with a preview, introduces citizens of federally recognized tribes, whose homelands were once in … Read More
Our 2023 impact
At Ohio Humanities, we envision an Ohio where people’s unique stories are heard, the past is linked to the present, and a better future is realized together. In 2023, we invested $488,858 in grant funding in Ohio’s stories and storytellers, sparking conversations and inspiring ideas across the state. Our 2023 Impact Report highlights the ways in which documentary film is … Read More
Ohio Humanities, Wexner Center for the Arts Announce the Recipients of 2024–25 Ohio Humanities Film Fellowships
COLUMBUS, OH—Ohio Humanities and the Wexner Center for the Arts at The Ohio State University are excited to share information about the second group of filmmakers and projects to receive funding through a three-year partnership to support independent filmmaking. “We are honored to continue our longstanding tradition of supporting Ohio’s stories and storytellers alongside our partners at the Wex,” says … Read More