 A Historic Presidency
Historians detailed the changed arc of politics during the Obama administration at our fall forum
The Politics of Hope was an unparalleled success! Boston Public Library’s Rabb Hall was filled with attendees who wanted to catch our four historians’ takes on the Obama legacy. Conversation crisscrossed racial politics, the conservative backlash, media secrecy, and much more. WGBH’s Forum Network recorded the full panel discussion.
WATCH WGBH’S RECORDING OF OUR FALL FORUM |
 Worth Celebrating
Three stars receive the Governor’s Awards in the Humanities
Each year, Mass Humanities confers the annual Governor’s Awards in the Humanities upon three leaders in recognition of their public actions, grounded in an appreciation of the humanities, to enhance civic life in the Commonwealth. The 2016 ceremony honored Freida Garcia, Atul Gawande, and Lia Poorvu, and took place following the forum.
WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT EACH OF OUR AWARDEES |
 Bonne Chance!
We bid farewell to Director of Grants & Programs Pleun Bouricius.
Pleun has worked with Mass Humanities for nine years and in that time she has made valuable contributions to our grants and programs. We thank her for her dedication and commitment in that time. All at Mass Humanities wish her well as she departs to focus on writing (shaping her blog into a book) and building things (as a self-employed contractor). She continues her involvement with the field through working as a freelance historian and she will remain active in the newly-formed Massachusetts Alliance for Sharing History as curator of the Plainfield Historical Society. |
 Holiday Itinerary
Hilltown Families offers a rich, historical, place-based guide to the holidays.
Discover the many cultural opportunities that can be found in Western Massachusetts with the Mass Humanities funded guide Learning Ahead, published by the popular Hilltown Families blog. Their bimonthly offerings situate history, literature, and education in relevant everyday themes, like gift-giving or holiday recipes.
GET THE GUIDES |
 New Grant Deadlines Approaching
More money, more often for local history grants.
Our grant deadlines are changing. Mass Humanities will now award both discussion and local history grants in four rounds each year. The first deadline of 2017 will be for LOI forms for discussion grants and local history grants on January 3rd.
VIEW THE UPDATED DEADLINES |
 Award-Winning Theater
Two recent grantees take home top honors at the Berkshire Theatre Awards.
The Berkshires are home to WAM Theater, Barrington Stage Company, and the thriving scene that surrounds them. The inaugural Berkshire Theatre Awards recognize outstanding work in the region. WAM Theater’s Holy Laughter took home the award for Supporting Performance (Female) Intimate Theatre. Barrington Stage Company’s Mass Humanities funded production of American Son was recognized in no fewer than five categories.
SEE PHOTOS FROM THE BERKSHIRE THEATRE AWARDS CEREMONY |
 Women at Work
An oral history of Fall River’s working class women.
Mass Humanities awarded $5,000 to Fall River Historical Society in 2014 to document the oral histories of local women and/or their descendants. The society’s findings are exhibited in a new online archive containing first-hand accounts of labor issues and everyday life during the middle decades of the 20th century.
VIEW THE EXHIBIT |
 A New Public Humanities Center in Lowell
Middlesex Community College debuted their plans for participating in the Mass Humanities Community College Public Humanities Centers initiative. The Lowell-based center will “develop outreach programs, foster community relationships, and create pathways for exploring the cultural mosaic of the Lowell area,” MCC Dean of Humanities & Social Sciences Matthew Olson told reporters.
GET THE DETAILS |
 How About Them Apples?
Good Will Hunting was released on this day in 1997, the product of local Hollywood aspirants Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. The movie was filmed on site in Boston and the city features prominently in the tale of love, discovery, and, perhaps most importantly, social class.
READ THE HISTORY |
 Delicious History
Why do New England residents love pie? You can trace the tradition and its inspiration all the way back to colonial times. The Boston Globe shares the history and culture of pie making in Massachusetts over the centuries.
FIND OUT MORE ON FACEBOOK |
 About the House
Our board member Ron Slate and his daughter, comedian Jenny Slate, wrote a book together. About the House is a collection of stories, essays, and poems about Jenny’s early years (when she was already a performer), the ghost stories the family tells about their home, and much more.
SPREAD THE NEWS ON TWITTER |
 Humanities Calendar
We list the best humanities programming in the Commonwealth on our event calendar. See what is happening this month at Mass Humanities.
FIND EVENTS |