In brief
An overview of our programs.
Oregon Humanities Grants support public programs designed to explore the humanities in participatory and dynamic ways. We encourage applications from a broad range of nonprofit organizations in Oregon, including those that may not define their work as being based in the humanities. We especially welcome inquiries for projects that will attract diverse audiences, engage minds, and stimulate meaningful community dialogue.
The Conversation Project: A New Chautauqua offers Oregon nonprofits free programs that engage community members in thoughtful, challenging conversations about ideas critical to our daily lives and our state's future. Conversations are facilitated by some of Oregon's most respected humanities scholars.
HIP is a free college humanities course for adults who do not have a college degree and who face financial barriers to continuing their education. Students read and discuss everything from Greek tragedies and philosophy to modern poetry and plays, experiencing new ideas and new ways of seeing themselves and the world. The course is taught by college faculty and meets twice a week in the evenings.
Think & Drink is a happy-hour series that sparks provocative conversations about big ideas. The series, which invites the public to think and talk together, reflects Oregon Humanities' emphasis on infusing important public conversations with critical thinking and fresh ideas. All Think & Drink events are free and open to the public.
Happy Camp is a summer honors symposium for bright, ambitious, curious teens who use the humanities to consider the pursuit of happiness and how it shapes our culture.
Teacher Institutes offer Oregon teachers the chance to study, under the direction of leading scholars, themes and topics directly related to their work as classroom instructors and their role as conveyors of civic traditions.
In addition to ongoing regular programming, Oregon Humanities occasionally offers public lectures, panels, and reading and discussion series in communities around the state. We also work in partnership with other organizations to offer this type of programming.
Program news
What's happening in each of our programs
Responsive Program Grants Now Available
In an age of sound bites, the humanities can provide a broader context for understanding complex issues in the news, as well as opportunities for
collective learning and reflection. Oregon Humanities supports organizations responding quickly and thoughtfully to current issues and... More
More news about Grants
Conversation Project January 31 Application Deadline
Oregon nonprofits should apply by January 31, 2010, for Conversation Project programs that take place March 1-June 30, 2010. Check out the catalog, instructions for host organizations, and downloadable application form. For more information, please contact Program Coordinator Annie... More
More news about The Conversation Project
Apply Now for HIP Salem 2010
This summer, adults living on low incomes in the Salem area who want to explore challenging ideas about power, justice, knowledge, and community will have a chance to participate in Humanity in Perspective (HIP), a free, one-semester, college-credit course in the humanities. HIP is... More
More news about Humanity in Perspective
Sports and American Culture with the University of Oregon's Richard Lariviere and Mike Bellotti, Mayor Kitty Piercy, and NEH Chair Jim Leach
Think & Drink, the popular Portland happy-hour series, will visit Eugene on Friday, February 12, 2010, at 5:30 at Cozmic Pizza, 199 West 8th Ave., Eugene. University of Oregon President Richard Lariviere, University of Oregon Athletic Director Mike Bellotti, Mayor Kitty Piercy, and... More
More news about Think & Drink
Happy Camp: Summer Youth Honors Symposium
Happy Camp (formerly Summer Honors Symposium) was launched in 2006 in partnership with Portland-area public and private schools to provide bright Portland-area teens with the opportunity to explore, along with a group of ambitious and curious peers, rich humanities topics such as The... More
More news about Happy Camp
Program Overview
Oregon Humanities has designed its Teacher Institutes to spark teachers’ intellectual curiosity and satisfy their ongoing needs for new information, ideas, and academic approaches. Currently, most of the professional development opportunities that exist for teachers are focused on... More
More news about Teacher Institutes
Oregon Poet Laureate Call for Nominations
Do you know a bold and articulate voice for culture across the state? Oregon’s Cultural Partners are now accepting nominations for Oregon’s next Poet Laureate.
The role of the Poet Laureate is to foster the art of poetry, encourage literacy and learning, address central issues... More
More news about Special Projects
Upcoming
Program events on the horizon
Heavy Weather on KBOO
08 February 2010
Conversation Project: The American Character
10 February 2010
Conversation Project: Night of a Thousand Stars
10 February 2010
Urban Renewal Area Town Hall: Community Truth-Telling
10 February 2010
Think & Drink with Richard Lariviere, Mike Bellotti, Kitty Piercy, and NEH Chair Jim Leach
12 February 2010
Comments
On our programs
Those of you in Portland who can’t attend our Eugene Think & Drink might want to attend an upcoming talk by Tom Krattenmaker, author of “Onward Christian Athletes” on christianity in an age of religious diversity. Presented by PSU Department of Religious Studies. February 25, 12:00-2:00 PM, Smith Student Center, Rm. 338.
Jennifer Allen, Portland | on Think & Drink with Richard Lariviere, Mike Bellotti, Kitty Piercy, and NEH chair Jim Leach
Please send an application for the OHIP class in Salem at Willamette. Thanks.
nicole taylor, salem, oregon | on Oregon Humanities 2010 grant application deadine
It is a shame that the Council does not support these terrific former Chautauquans. How many libraries, museums, etc., can afford to pay for these folks?
diane allen | on Past Oregon Chautauqua Scholars Available for Independent Programs
Sorry about that, Reggie. It should show up now.
Kathleen | on Past Oregon Chautauqua Scholars Available for Independent Programs
where is the list?
reggie diamond | on Past Oregon Chautauqua Scholars Available for Independent Programs
On the Special Projects page under Podcasts for Commonplace Series events, I see text that says “Listen to” and “Download” but none of them seem to be links. Clicking any of them does nothing, and the cursor is a text entry bar instead of an arrow. I have not encountered this problem on any other web site. Are you sure your new site is all working correctly?
Paulianne, Port Orford | on The Commonplace Series, 2006-2008
Your (old) Chautauqua programs have been a staple library offering in the remote rural communities of north Curry County (Port Orford and Langlois). I have enjoyed them personally since early 2001 and have both fond memories and new knowledge from the many I have attended. I hope and trust that the (new) Conversation Project will do as well. Thank you for providing affordable quality programs in small towns like ours.
Paulianne, Port Orford | on Conversation Project Kicks Off in November
Diane and others:
Please check out Programs section of the website for information on statewide programs. Oregon Humanities programs continue to reach every county in the state of Oregon. And there is nothing in our direction to support or suggest any change to our commitment to statewide mission or programming. Thanks!
Cara Ungar Gutierrez | on Tracy Kidder at Mercy Corps Action Center Event
China is a great threat to us. They have free education and medical care. There is not the great inequality experienced in the US. They don’t support rogue regimes like Israel and Saudi Arabia.
diane allen | on Think & Drink with Richard Read and Lijia Zhang: A Special Wordstock Event
Although Ms. Zhang said she doesn’t feel much limitation writing in China, Mr. Read did mention that if he writes about Falun Gong, they don’t like it. Why? Because the Communist regime is afraid that people know the truth: One hundred million people are persecuted for following the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance to improve themselves, they are put in forced labor camps, prisons, tortured and killed for simply speaking out what they believe, and after realizing the nature of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), more than 61 million Chinese people have declared the withdrawal from the party and its affiliated organizations. Any seemingly tolerance by the regime towards other minor criticism is to distract people’s attention from these critical ones. That’s also why we see internet blockage, CCP’s control/influence of Chinese media outside of China and infiltration into Western media, etc. While happily trading and buying, same as under the violent thought control, people’s consciences may fade away quickly. Sincerely hope all Oregonians can treasure the freedom we have and search for the uncensored truth of China, since the country is definitely affecting our life one way or another.
yang | on Think & Drink with Richard Read and Lijia Zhang: A Special Wordstock Event