Program areas at Humanities Washington
Family reading: hw supports the delivery of prime time family reading and prime time preschool programs statewide, promoting family engagement, preparing students for academic success, creating family bonds, and connecting communities to their libraries. In 2023, hw funded 48 six-week family reading programs at libraries, schools, and other youth-serving organizations in all corners of the state, benefiting nearly 2,600 children and their caregivers. Participants demonstrated improved confidence around reading, with 95% increasing the amount of time they read together, 93% experiencing positive changes in attitudes toward reading, and 98% more likely to use library services.
Cultural traditions: folklife and traditional arts are expressions of peoples' heritage and are critical to cultural communities' health and well-being. In 2023, hw's heritage arts apprenticeship program served 15 master/apprentice groups, preserving important cultural traditions and providing mentorship and job skills to emerging practitioners. In addition, an archival project was initiated that will merge two significant collections of materials documenting decades of Washington state's folk and traditional arts, making them accessible to the public.
Speakers bureau: drawing from a vetted pool of leading cultural experts and scholars, hw's speakers bureau provides conversational lectures that are free and open to the public. Topics are as diverse as the communities they serve, with 40 speakers covering history, politics, music, philosophy, and more. In 2023, over 7,000 people attended 202 presentations. Participants overwhelmingly indicated that events sparked meaningful conversations and helped them consider new perspectives.
Other program services: live events engage and inspire audiences with context and new perspectives from scholars on current events; Washington state poet laureate builds awareness of and appreciation for the rich legacy of poetry in Washington state; and a grants program provides financial resources for citizens to engage with ideas and issues through the lens of the Humanities. More information on all programs and accomplishments can be found at www.humanities.org.