Mission
INDIANA HUMANITIES WAS FORMED IN 1972, WHEN THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES (NEH) ASKED A GROUP OF FIVE ENERGETIC INDIANA CITIZENS TO FORM A STATEWIDE GRANT-MAKING AGENCY. THE GROUP WAS COMPRISED OF DR. MARVIN E. HARTIG, MRS. EDMUND F. (VIRGINIA) BALL, DR. ROBERT E. BURNS, MR. EDWARD N. HOWARD AND DR. ROBERT W. RICHEY. THEIR GOAL WAS TO FOCUS FEDERAL DOLLARS ON MORE LOCAL, GRASSROOTS INITIATIVES. THE INDIANA COMMITTEE FOR THE HUMANITIES, AS IT WAS KNOWN THEN, BEGAN ITS OPERATIONS ON SEPTEMBER 1 OF THAT YEAR.THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, THREE THEMES HAVE BEEN THE HALLMARK OF OUR WORK: SUPPORTIVE GRANT-MAKING, PUBLIC DIALOGUE AND AMBITIOUS PROJECTS.TODAY, INDIANA HUMANITIES IS A STATEWIDE NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE HUMANITIES. WE DO THIS BY PROVIDING GRANTS, CONVENING DISCUSSIONS, UPLIFTING HUMANITIES PRACTITIONERS, SPOTLIGHTING HUMANITIES ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVITIES, AND CREATING OUR OWN PROGRAMS.