Attend  Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival (March 27-29, 2015) for featured master classes or literary panels with authors such as John Waters, General Russel Honoré, Laura Lippman, and many others!

The Festival is offering free scholarship weekend panel passes, which allows access to 25 panels ($75 value), plus a Master Class ticket ($25 value) to Louisiana educators. Discounts are available on theater and special event tickets. The offer also includes a $100 travel stipend for each teacher to travel to New Orleans.

Click here to apply.

The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities is now accepting applications for Fall 2015 programs  in Louisiana .  Public libraries, schools, early learning centers, community centers, and other public institutions are encouraged to apply.    Click here  to learn more about PRIME TIME and how it yields long-term improvements in student academic achievement among   school-aged children  and builds school-readiness skills among  preschool-aged children .   

Available Program Applications (click links):

• PRIME TIME Family Reading Time (3 to 10 year-old children & parents)
• PRIME TIME Preschool (3 to 5 year-old children & parents)
• PRIME TIME Dual (1 Family Reading Time and 1 Preschool combined) email [email protected] for approval and dual application password.

Eligible Partner Organizations:

• Library Systems and Individual Branches
• School Districts, Charter Organizations, and Individual Schools
• Early Learning / Head Start Centers
• Museums 
• Community Service Agencies 

PRIME TIME applications are available twice annually for Fall and Spring/Summer sessions.  The deadline to apply for programs that will take place during Fall 2015 is Wednesday, April 15^th. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions by Thursday, April 30^th.

Click here to access a PRIME TIME grant application.  For more information about PRIME TIME please download our program brochure, or email [email protected].

The PRIME TIME staff is seeking qualified professionals to train and serve as scholars and storytellers throughout the state.  PRIME TIME scholars and storytellers are the backbone of the program, and their roles define the quality and impact of each program.  Reading stories and asking families questions about them seems simple, but it truly takes a special personality to successfully carry out those tasks according to the PRIME TIME methodology. 

PRIME TIME requires professionalism, strong work ethic, a willingness to learn, commitment to preparation, and a desire to serve vulnerable populations.  Accordingly, scholars and storytellers are not asked to volunteer their time and expertise.  Stipends for program facilitation and mileage reimbursement for traveling to and from program sites is provided. 

Click here for details on eligibility and/or the selection process.  Send résumés and curriculum vitas to the PRIME TIME staff, and contact Shantrell Austin with questions.  

The PRIME TIME Family Reading Time and PRIME TIME Preschool Training Workshops were held on Saturday, January 17, 2015 at the Louisiana Humanities Center at Turners' Hall in New Orleans.  PRIME TIME Training workshops include an intense review of the program methodology, planning strategies, and implementation techniques.  By all accounts, both trainings achieved the goal of preparing the newest group of team members for their programmatic roles in 2015!

Nearly 150 new team members descended upon New Orleans to engage in intensive instruction and practice on the PRIME TIME methodology and program implementation strategies.  Participants from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, and Nebraska were trained by experienced consultants and PRIME TIME staff members.  As always, the training workshop was a fun and enlightening experience for all.