Our Mission

To inspire and support intellectual curiosity and imagination in all Rhode Islanders through lifelong learning.

Who We Are

The Rhode Island Council for the Humanities is an independent, not-for-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The Council was founded in 1973, guided by the belief that the study of the humanities is central to the life and work of a free and diverse people.

What We Do

For more than thirty-five years, we have provided public service to the citizens of Rhode Island by investing in local organizations and individuals through grantmaking and public programs.

We support scholars, filmmakers, writers, oral historians. We invest in libraries, museums, historical societies, community organizations. Our grants have supported more than 1,100 organizations throughout the state. We are the only source of public funding for humanities projects in Rhode Island.

In addition to grantmaking, our Council brings together diverse audiences across Rhode Island to engage in public discourse about the social and cultural issues that shape our lives.