FOR RELEASE May 14, 2026 Columbus, Ohio — More than 100 local history, humanities and cultural leaders across Ohio have signed and delivered a letter to Ohio U.S. Sen. Jon Husted urging the government to release all National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) funds to Ohio Humanities and other state humanities councils as appropriated by Congress so that taxpayer dollars … Read More
Contact Congress: Fund Culture Here in Ohio
Federal humanities funding supports museums, libraries, archives, educational programs, documentaries, festivals, historic preservation, and cultural organizations serving communities all across Ohio. In January, Congress approved funding for state humanities councils, but Ohio communities still need those funds released! As Congress considers FY27 funding this spring, continued support for the state humanities councils remains critical. We encourage you to contact your … Read More
U.S. Senate Votes to Fully Restore Humanities Councils Funding in Bill That Now Awaits President’s Signature
On January 15, the Senate passed the 2026 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which includes level funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the humanities councils—$207 million for the NEH, with $65 million of that budget allocated to the 56 state and territorial humanities councils. The bill will now go to the President for his … Read More
Ohio Launches Yearlong Celebration of Toni Morrison with February 18 Kickoff Event
On Wednesday, February 18, 2026, Ohio will officially launch Beloved: Ohio Celebrates Toni Morrison—a yearlong, statewide celebration honoring the life, work, and legacy of Toni Morrison—with a kickoff event at The Columbus Foundation. About Toni Morrison and her Ohio Connections Born in Lorain, Ohio, on February 18, 1931, Toni Morrison became the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize … Read More
Ohio Humanities and the Wexner Center for the Arts Announce the Ohio Humanities Film Fellow for 2025-2026
In early 2023, Ohio Humanities and the Wexner Center for the Arts at The Ohio State University partnered on a three-year fellowship program to support the sharing of Ohio stories through humanities-informed documentary film. The collaboration centered on projects that can help strengthen communities, bridge divides, and foster a shared sense of human experience. This unique collaboration concludes in 2025–26 … Read More
Ohio to host statewide celebration of writer and Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison
Ohio Humanities is today announcing an upcoming statewide, yearlong celebration of Ohio native Toni Morrison—one of the most noteworthy authors of the last century and the first Black woman to win a Nobel Prize. “Beloved: Ohio Celebrates Toni Morrison” will run from February 18, 2026 to February 18, 2027, beginning on Morrison’s birthday with a kickoff event in Ohio’s capital … Read More
Federation of State Humanities Councils granted preliminary injunction in lawsuit against NEH
A federal judge in Oregon today issued a preliminary injunction ruling that the termination of humanities councils’ operating grants in April by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) was unlawful. The lawsuit was initiated by Oregon Humanities and the Federation of State Humanities Councils (on behalf of its member councils). The full decision can be read here. A previous press … Read More
Federation of State Humanities Councils and Oregon Humanities file lawsuit against NEH and DOGE alleging illegal termination of grants to 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils
The Federation of State Humanities Councils (Federation) and Oregon Humanities jointly filed a lawsuit on Thursday, May 15 in federal district court in Oregon against the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This lawsuit challenges the disruption and attempted destruction, spearheaded by DOGE, of the congressionally established federal-state partnership between NEH and the … Read More
Mellon Foundation announces $15 Million emergency funding for humanities councils, including up to $250,000 for Ohio Humanities in response to federal funding cuts
This investment by the Mellon Foundation will help stabilize Ohio Humanities after the sudden cancellation of its federal operating grants by NEH earlier this month The Mellon Foundation has announced a $15 million emergency funding commitment to the Federation of State Humanities Councils in response to federal funding cuts that have devastated state humanities councils. This emergency funding will help … Read More
Breaking news: federal cultural funding cut in Ohio
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