The humanities are the lessons provided by our ancestors and the messages we pass on to future generations, the ways we communicate our hopes and fears to our fellow human beings. At Mass Humanities, we believe the humanities help us respond to essential questions: What is the right thing to do? What do I owe to my family, my neighbors, my country?
Those questions grow more urgent and complex with each passing day. The intertwined, systemic crises of affordability, climate, and democracy begin to feel like a way of life in America, rather than challenges we must meet together.
And still the people of Massachusetts show up for each other. A youth choir and a group of senior citizens read Frederick Douglass together in a small theater inside a renovated mill building. A filmmaker records the stories and traditions her family carried across oceans and borders. An archivist connects the stories of LGBTQ+ patriots who fought for equality centuries ago with local Pride organizers. A librarian helps residents see their lives within the longer tale of our democracy. Musicians ensure that children learn the songs and dances that were treasured by their grandparents.
Over the last two tumultuous years, we at Mass Humanities never gave up on this work. In 2027, we will resume funding for programs that rely on the power of human-to-human interactions rooted in mutual respect. We believe that the humanities provide the beauty needed to endure the struggle and the wisdom required for free people to choose their path.
Mass Humanities begins its 2027 grantmaking this month with the first of four opportunities for non-profits and state and federally recognized tribes.
On November 16, we will open applications for Expand Massachusetts Stories 2027 Support Grants, a continuation of our support for the work of community-centered storytelling that expands public understanding of Massachusetts and its people, with an emphasis on stories that often go unrecognized or undervalued.
Funding can be used to cover programs and/or operations costs. And, unlike previous rounds of EMS, organizations do not need to put forward specific projects for funding consideration. We know that community organizations face emergencies that threaten the storytelling work developed in recent years. Our hope is to deliver funding effectively while reducing additional burdens on our grantees. Read our 2026 storytelling assessment.
On December 14, organizations can begin applying to host the 2027 Reading Frederick Douglass Together events. The Douglass movement has grown from its roots on Boston Common in 2009 to 76 public readings held around the commonwealth last year. In 2026, 68 of the events included facilitated discussion and/or immersive activities to deepen engagement, and 28 organizations hosted a reading for the first time, including 23 who received their first grant from Mass Humanities. The consistent increase in readings over the last four years, despite the current political climate, suggests that RFDT does more than present a historical text: it creates opportunities for reflection, dialogue, participation, and connection across communities and time. Organizations can apply through monthly deadlines in January, February, March, and April.
This spring, we will debut a new funding opportunity for independent filmmakers seeking to chronicle the lives of Massachusetts people. This evolution of the Expand Mass. Stories initiative aims to ensure that storytellers working in the documentary space have the resources and community connections necessary to pursue new narratives about the commonwealth and its people.
As these plans unfold, our team will continue to support our Clemente Course in the Humanities partners, our collaboration with the Mass. History Alliance, and our outreach to organizations in our home city of Holyoke. We look forward to engaging with our legislative champions through our collaborations with Mass Cultural Council and MASSCreative.
It’s important to note that we continue to navigate the volatility generated by policy changes made in Washington. Although a reduced portion of our federal funding was reinstated earlier this year, Mass Humanities is operating with fewer resources than previous years and significantly less than what Congress allocated to state humanities councils for 2026. The funds we deliver through the above grantmaking opportunities are made possible by our partnerships with Mass Cultural Council and the Barr Foundation.
We know that more must be done to preserve and reimagine the ways we learn, understand, and talk about our history and our communities. We welcome your ideas as we close this tumultuous year and turn our sights to 2027.
Most of all, we thank you and the many people around Massachusetts who continue to put their faith in the humanities. Your courage and trust remain the bedrock of Mass Humanities. We look forward to sharing more stories with you in the year to come.
All my best,
Brian Boyles
Executive Director
