tour guide and group

Request for Event Proposals

In partnership with humanists and humanities organizations across the country, the National Humanities Center will stage the Being Human Festival in the United States, April 14–28, 2025. Featuring 12 to 15 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 solid 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 re-enactments, communal storytelling ventures, performances, interactive exhibits, and other creative, educational options are encouraged.

The National Humanities Center will review proposals and award grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 to successful applicants.

Please use the application form below to submit your proposal for an event as part of the Being Human Festival. All applications must be received by November 1, 2024.

Questions? Please check out our frequently asked questions or email NHC Director of Public Engagement Jacqueline Kellish.

Submit Your Proposal

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Name*

First Last

Email*

Do you have previous experience developing public humanities programming or participating in community-engaged research efforts? Please describe any relevant work in these areas.*

(500 word limit)

Describe your expected/intended audience for this event. Is there a particular age group you would like to reach? Are there specific communities you hope to involve and/or serve?*

(300 word limit)

Please upload your proposal for a public humanities event to be included in the Being Human Festival.*

Your proposal should not exceed four pages (single spaced, 12-point font minimum) and should include the following:

The individuals and/or institutions who will plan and execute this project, including a brief description of why they are suited to lead this work.
A description of the relevance and impact this event will have on the community, keeping in mind that the Festival is meant to provide educational and engaging humanities-based opportunities for the public.
Your potential venue(s), which may include digital and/or hybrid options for increased accessibility.
A projected budget for costs associated with this event. Please indicate any other sources of financial support you may already have received or plan to pursue in order to support this work.

Accepted file types: doc, docx, pdf, Max. file size: 5 MB.

Please upload the CV(s) of the project manager(s).*

Drop files here or

Accepted file types: doc, docx, pdf, Max. file size: 5 MB.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

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 suggestion with NHC Director of Public Engagement Jacqueline Kellish.

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 for 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 November 2024.

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.