Articles

Over the past several months, the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed Humanities Texas’s programming and activities. As the staff and I continue to work remotely, we are profoundly thankful that we and our families are healthy, and that we can continue to promote lifelong learning in the humanities statewide. 

Contacting Us

Our phone lines remain open during business hours. If you need to reach a member of staff, please call our main line at 512.440.1991. Our website includes up-to-date information about all of our programs. You are also welcome to email individual staff members directly or to use our program-specific emails with general queries about grants, exhibitions, teacher institutes, Outstanding Teaching Awards, or development.

To ensure you receive announcements about upcoming opportunities and programs, please subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter if you haven’t already. You can also keep track of our activity and announcements on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts.

Humanities Texas Relief Grants

On Monday, April 27, 2020, we launched our Relief Grants initiative for Texas cultural and educational institutions facing financial hardship resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. Nonprofit organizations and state and local governmental entities are eligible to apply for these fast-track grants. Applicants must administer humanities programs that have a significant impact in Texas communities. Small and rural organizations are especially encouraged to apply.

Our staff will hold weekly webinars in April and May to discuss both the Relief Grants program and additional funding opportunities provided by Humanities Texas, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and other entities. The first webinars will be held on Wednesday, April 29, and Monday, May 4.  Register to attend.

Specific Program Notes

  • Our grants program stands ready as ever to support Texas cultural and educational institutions seeking to develop and conduct public humanities programs. We offer easy-to-access, quick-to-receive funding that can be particularly helpful as organizations transition to remote humanities programming and develop the digital resources now necessary to sustain communities during this moment of crisis.
  • In our education programs, we are focused on promoting curriculum resources freely available on our website such as Texas Originals, A President's Vision, and the resource guides we have prepared for teachers of Texas history, eighth-grade U.S. history, eleventh-grade U.S. history, and English language arts. At the same time, we have begun holding a series of webinars supporting teachers’ ongoing intellectual and professional development.
  • We recognize that public programs associated with Humanities Texas grants or traveling exhibitions may need to be rescheduled due to public health concerns. For grantees and renters of our exhibitions, we ask that you please provide us with timely updates regarding event postponements or cancellations so that we can update our records and calendars accordingly.

Once again, we are grateful for your continued support. On behalf of Humanities Texas, I send best wishes to you and your families. My colleagues and I look forward to supporting your continued efforts to promote humanities education in your communities.

Eric Lupfer