Being Human Festival (US) 2027
In partnership with humanists and humanities organizations across the country, the National Humanities Center will stage Being Human Festival (US) from April 17 to May 1, 2027. Featuring a range of public humanities events, this initiative will support the development of programming for diverse, non-academic audiences across geographic regions and subject areas.
The Center is currently entertaining proposals from prospective partners looking to stage an event as part of the festival. Successful proposals will receive grants from the National Humanities Center to help defray costs for their events, which must be grounded in research methods but designed to engage the general public. Academic lectures and symposia will not be eligible for inclusion in the festival. Walking tours, opportunities to learn a craft, historical reenactments, communal storytelling ventures, performances, interactive exhibits, and other creative, educational options are encouraged.
2027 Theme: Crossroads
Our festival theme in 2027 is Crossroads: a place of decision, encounter, and consequence. From the streets of protest to the meeting points of cultures, from moments when society pivots to the choices we face today about climate, democracy, and technological change, we invite applicants to explore spaces of convergence and divergence, where paths meet, decisions will be made, and history turns.
We are at a time of pivotal change, as the international order faces restructuring while democratic institutions are being tested and reimagined. Climate change demands urgent decisions. Artificial intelligence is reshaping how we work, create, and understand ourselves. Your event might connect with geographical crossroads at trade routes, borders, and coastlines. It might explore cultural crossroads of art, literature, and music. It may consider geopolitical inflection points in the past, present, and future.
Application Guidelines
We invite applicants across all humanities disciplines to explore crossroads as spaces of encounter, change, and decision at this year’s Being Human Festival (US). Applicants may be drawn from institutional contexts including, but not limited to, the following:
- Universities and affiliated centers
- Art institutions
- Cultural and community organizations
- Public humanities organizations
- Museums, libraries, and archives
Proposals from independent scholars are also welcome, provided that the planned initiative engages community collaborators and audiences in a meaningful way.
The National Humanities Center will review proposals and award grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 to successful applicants. Due to the modest nature of these awards, our financial support is intended to cover concrete costs associated with the execution of Being Human events. We are not able to cover indirect costs or overhead expenses at this time.
Questions? Please check out our frequently asked questions or email the public engagement team.
Eligibility
All events must:
- demonstrate aspects of humanities research and practice in ways that are entertaining, accessible, and relevant to non-specialist audiences;
- be held during the festival dates (April 17–May 1, 2027, with the option to have lead-in and post-activity aspects to the project);
- be free to attend (this includes free access to venues where events are being held, such as heritage sites or museums that normally charge an entrance fee, and no selling of merchandise or requests for donations);
- be representative and inclusive, giving consideration to the diversity of facilitators and collaborators represented within their programs;
- give serious consideration to accessibility in choice of venue, platform, and format, with all activities taking place in accessible venues where possible (exceptions can be made for venues that are integral to the activity, but additional ways to engage with the activity must be included, and this must be explained in your application);
- show evidence in the application that diversity, inclusion, and accessibility have been considered across programming, speakers and researchers, venues, and platforms.
Applicants who have previously taken part in Being Human (US) are welcome to submit a proposal. However, priority consideration will be given to project teams who have not been selected for inclusion in the festival.
If you have questions relating to eligibility, please email the Public Engagement team.
Submit Your Proposal
Please use the application form below to submit your proposal for a Being Human Festival (US) event. All applications must be received by October 30, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is an exciting opportunity, but I am unable to apply this year. May I pass this along to others in my network?
Yes! If you know of individuals or institutions doing exciting work in the public humanities who might be interested in staging an event as part of the festival, we encourage you to share this opportunity with them.
How much funding will I likely receive if my application is successful?
Award amounts will be determined at the discretion of the National Humanities Center and an independent review committee. Awards will range from $500 to $5,000. Note that larger awards will be allocated to projects that demonstrate a clear justification for event costs and a significant educational impact on their community. We strongly encourage applicants to seek additional sources of funding to offset overall costs.
When will I be notified about the result of my application?
All selection decisions will be announced in December 2026.
Have there been other similar festivals in other locations?
Yes. Most notably, the UK’s Being Human Festival, organized by the School of Advanced Study at the University of London, has been running since 2014. Their website provides more information about public humanities events that have been staged all over the UK as part of this initiative.