Rhode Island Council for the Humanities

The Rhode Island Council for the Humanities seeds, supports, and strengthens public history, cultural heritage, civic education, and community engagement by and for all Rhode Islanders. 

The Rhode Island Council for the Humanities seeds, supports, and strengthens public history, cultural heritage, civic education, and community engagement by and for all Rhode Islanders. As the only dedicated source of funding for public humanities in Rhode Island, we are proud to support museums, libraries, historic sites, schools, preservation and historical societies, community and cultural organizations, individual researchers and documentary filmmakers to bring Rhode Island’s stories to life and to amplify the state’s many diverse voices.

The Humanities Council was established in 1973 as an independent state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), which was founded in 1965 thanks to the leadership of Rhode Island’s own late Senator Claiborne Pell. A private nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, the Council is supported by federal funds from NEH as well as by individuals, corporations, and foundations. We are one of 56 humanities councils found in every state and U.S. territory.