We find the

human
connections

in the humanities

We champion the humanities to spark civic engagement, build community, educate, inspire, and make long-lasting change.

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Special Project

Nominate a Window Keeper!

Who will you nominate? The Window Keeper: Civic Honors is a statewide initiative that recognizes Pennsylvanians whose everyday actions help shape strong communities and sustain civic life through the power of the humanities.

PA Cultural Exchange

PaX is a new and innovative program from PA Humanities that convenes humanities, creative and cultural practitioners. Register for the info webinar on June 16!

Join Our Board

Be part of a committed team illuminating possibilities for Pennsylvanians and elevating our shared humanity to create stronger communities and fulfilling lives.

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Get your own stylish “Let’s Dream Boldly” mug. Every purchase supports our work, with an option to add an additional donation at checkout.

Voices of History Erie

Voices of History Erie is part of PA Humanities’ Voices of History: Stories from Black Pennsylvanians project, a first-of-its-kind statewide effort to collect and celebrate the stories, family histories, struggles, and triumphs of Black Pennsylvanians in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Rain Poetry Toolkit

Bring the magic of Rain Poetry to your community! Our new toolkit provides the information, templates, and inspiration to create your own Rain Poetry project - from planning and outreach to installation and celebration.

Let's Rise: 50th Anniversary Videos

Watch these videos created by Emmy-winning journalist Kelly Dessoye - they are powerful examples of how everyday people across Pennsylvania are using the tools of the humanities to strengthen their lives and communities.

in direct grants since 2020

69

core program sites
in the past 5 years

297

organizations granted funds
in the past 5 years

$2M+

granted in the past 2 years

330

organizations granted funds
in the past two years

73

core program sites
in the past 5 years

the

Education, Featured, News

Getting to know PA Humanities intern Amelia Spielman

A native of Austin, Texas, Amelia Spielman just completed her sophomore year at Haverford College and is double majoring in English and economics. Click to get to know her better.

PaX, Press Release

Featured, News, Special Projects

Community Building, Education, News, Press Release, Special Projects, The Window KEeper

Community Building, Featured, Grantmaking, News, Wingspan

Research

We contribute our learnings to the larger conversation about the role of the humanities in creating lasting change through major projects, including PA CultureCheck, PA Humanities Discovery Project, and more. We put participatory research at the forefront of all our work and partner with scholars, consultants, and a cross-sector of leaders including Drexel University, University of Pennsylvania’s PennPraxis, Elizabeth Myrick + Associates, and Allegheny Intermediate Unit.

Support Our Work

An independent nonprofit that puts people first, PA Humanities relies on financial support from people like you. As we celebrate our 50th Anniversary, your support will help more Pennsylvanians experience the humanities and put them in action through civic engagement, education, building community, and however they are inspired to make change.

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Jun 16

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Big news for Pennsylvania’s humanities, arts, culture, and community-based practitioners: PA Humanities has launched the new PA Cultural Exchange Fellowship (PaX).

This statewide fellowship will bring together practitioners from across Pennsylvania for immersive learning exchanges, peer connection, leadership development, and community-based project support. Selected fellows will receive a $10,000 fellowship award and participate in cultural exchange weekends in Pittsburgh, the PA Wilds, and York.

⏰ Curious about whether PaX is right for you? Join our informational webinar TODAY at 2pm to learn more about the fellowship, eligibility, application process, and to expect. Registration link at PAHumanities.org/PaX

Applications are due July 8, 2026, by 11:59 p.m.

The PA Cultural Exchange is made possible through the generous support of Spring Point Partners and The Heinz Endowments, with additional support from Pennsylvania state legislators, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

#PaX ...

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Jun 9

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This summer, PA Humanities is excited to welcome Amelia Spielman as our intern working primarily with our programs and communications teams, including special support for The Window Keeper: Civic Honors. Amelia is a @HaverfordEdu student double majoring in English and economics, with experience in social media, student engagement, writing, and community-building. She even has a Carnegie Hall piano performance on her résumé!

Visit PAHumanities.org for our Q&A with Amelia about what drew her to PA Humanities and what she hopes to learn this summer.

@hurfordcenter ...

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Jun 4

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Kudos to our executive director, Laurie Zierer, for leading an engaging session at #AFTACON 2026 entitled "From Isolation to Integration: How to Build and Sustain Cross-Sector Collaborations."

AFTACON 2026, presented by @americans4arts, is where artists, administrators, and advocates gather to shape the future of arts and culture and organize for impact. Three and a half days of learning, strategy, and connection — with 1,000+ peers from across the country. ...

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May 28

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Who will you recognize in your community? Nominations are now open for The Window Keeper: Civic Honors, PA Humanities’ statewide initiative celebrating Pennsylvanians whose everyday actions help shape strong communities and sustain civic life through the power of the humanities.

A Window Keeper can be a librarian or educator, or a museum or nonprofit professional expanding access to knowledge and bringing learning into everyday spaces. Perhaps it’s a local historian or archivist preserving community memory. Maybe your Window Keeper is a cultural tradition bearer passing down language, foodways or art. Or a community organizer or small business owner creating spaces for connection.

Everyone knows someone - who is your someone? Nominate them today at PAHumanities.org/TheWindowKeeper

#WindowKeeper #PAWindowKeeper #TheWindowKeeper ...

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