Programs : Public Humanities Fellows : FAQ

Public Humanities Fellows FAQ

What are the responsibilities of Fellows? 

Fellows are expected to plan and execute their project, participate in cohort meetings, create and maintain a project plan and budget, and submit a final impact report and present it to the Humanities Washington Board of Trustees and staff.  

What does early career mean? 

This program is specifically intended for individuals in the early stages of their careers. This is typically defined as five or fewer years into a career path.  

Eligible applicants will still be developing their skills, networks, and experience in the field. Individuals serving in leadership roles or with extensive experience in the public humanities are likely outside the scope of this program. Applicants must be at least 18 years old to be considered. 

Examples of eligible applicants include (but are not limited to): 

  • A culture bearer or independent scholar who is establishing themselves in the public humanities 
  • A graduate student in a humanities program interested in serving the public 
  • A professor, museum professional, or educator who has received their degree within the last five years 
  • A professional who has recently transitioned into the humanities sector from another field 

What are the humanities? 

We use the NEH’s definition of the humanities, which is as follows:    

“The term ‘humanities’ includes, but is not limited to, the study and interpretation of the following: language, both modern and classical; linguistics; literature; history; jurisprudence; philosophy; archaeology; comparative religion; ethics; the history, criticism and theory of the arts; those aspects of social sciences which have humanistic content and employ humanistic methods; and the study and application of the humanities to the human environment with particular attention to reflecting our diverse heritage, traditions, and history and to the relevance of the humanities to the current conditions of national life.”  

Is my project a good fit? 

If the answer is yes to all of these questions, your project is likely to be eligible for consideration: 

  1. Does the applicant live in Washington? 
  2. Is the applicant in the early stages of their career? 
  3. Is the project robustly situated within the humanities? 
  4. Does the project align with the mission of Humanities Washington? (Mission: Humanities Washington opens minds and bridges divides by creating spaces to explore different perspectives.)
  5. Does the project robustly serve Washington audiences, especially those historically underserved by the humanities? 
  6. Is the project accessible and free for the general public to attend, experience, or use? 
  7. Will the project funds be used for eligible expenses? See the Call for Applications for more details on this requirement. 

Innovative projects that serve audiences underrepresented in the humanities are prioritized. Projects can take many forms, such as public presentations, online exhibits, podcasts, discussion groups, video series, place-based programming, and digital publications. 

Are art projects eligible?  

Art projects are outside the scope of this project. We encourage individuals with folk and traditional art projects to look into the Heritage Arts Apprenticeship Program, . For other opportunities for artists, please visit ArtsWA, the state arts commission. 

What is a learning cohort? 

The learning cohort is the group of selected Fellows who meet over the course of the fellowship to: 

  • Learn best practices in the public humanities. 
  • Provide updates, pose questions, and share knowledge. 
  • Establish a “home base” for one another of mutual support and learning. 

Can teams apply? 

Unfortunately, the program does not have the capacity to support teams at this time. 

What are the priorities of the program?  

The priorities of the Public Humanities Fellows program are to: 

  1. Serve communities historically under-resourced in the humanities. 
  2. Provide practical, hands-on professional development for selected fellows. 
  3. Support innovative public humanities programming. 
  4. Build respectful relationships with Washington communities and organizations.