Humanities Washington

Family reading - hw's prime time family reading program encourages shared connections around books and reading, boosting long-term academic achievement, and lasting relationships with local libraries. In 2022, hw funded 168 events at libraries and other youth-serving organizations in all corners of the state that will benefit up to 1,386 children and parents. 98% of participating children demonstrated increased confidence around reading and 93% had more positive attitudes toward reading, while 75% of families reported increased family reading time.

Cultural traditions - folklife and traditional arts are expressions of peoples' heritage and are critical to cultural communities' health and well-being. In 2022, hw's heritage arts apprenticeship program (haap) served 16 master/apprentice pairs, preserving important cultural traditions, and providing mentorship and job skills to emerging practitioners. In addition, a multi-site survey involving numerous professionals and community members explored and documented the diverse foodways present in Washington.

Speakers bureau - drawing from a vetted pool of leading cultural experts and scholars, our speakers bureau provides conversational lectures that are free and open to the public. Topics are as diverse as the communities they serve, with 35 speakers covering history, politics, music, philosophy, and more. In 2022, over 5,500 people attended 195 presentations. Participants overwhelmingly indicated that events sparked meaningful conversations and helped them consider new perspectives.

Big think events engage and inspire audiences with context and new perspectives from scholars on current events; Washington state poet laureate builds awareness of and appreciation for the rich legacy of poetry in Washington state; and a grants program provides financial resources for citizens to engage with ideas and issues through the lens of the Humanities. More information on all programs and accomplishments can be found at www.humanities.org.