About Us

Founded in 1980, the Humanities Council of Washington, DC is a private affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). It is a non-profit organization that provides grant support for community programs that enrich the lives of DC citizens through the humanities disciplines. Additionally, the Humanities Council of Washington, DC produces various programs with support from area non-profits, the NEH, and the DC government.

The Humanities Council of Washington, DC is governed by a 20 person board of directors, 5 of whom are appointed by the mayor. Working in conjunction with the Council’s small staff, these community leaders are dedicated to creating an environment in all DC wards and neighborhoods where residents can participate in an open dialogue about the humanities and how they are reflected in contemporary issues and challenges.

Though the Humanities Council of Washington, DC receives funding from the NEH, it relies heavily on generous support from donors interested in preserving the instructive and enriching influence of the humanities in the District of Columbia.

What are the Humanities?

According to the NEH and the 1965 National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act, the humanities include the study of language, literature, history, jurisprudence, philosophy, comparative religion, ethics, as well as art history, theory, and criticism. These disciplines and their related fields are vital to civic and social well-being because they provide a sense of physical and intellectual continuity with the past, reflect current societal issues and challenges, and can help illuminate possibilities for the future.

The humanities can mean many different things to many different people. As part of an ongoing project, the Humanities Council of Washington, DC has compiled a number of definitions from our colleagues and friends. Click Here to view Defining the Humanities:  A work in progress.