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“Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.”
This quote from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein feels especially relevant for Utah Humanities right now.
Over the past two months, we’ve experienced a whirlwind of emotions: despair at the abrupt cancellation of our funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH); deep gratitude for the overwhelming support from our friends and partners; and cautious optimism at receiving emergency funding from the Federation of State Humanities Councils with support from the Mellon Foundation. We know this storm isn’t over, and we expect our situation will continue to evolve in the weeks and months ahead.
Though some aspects of our work may appear to be functioning normally, the reality is far from business as usual. Behind the scenes, we’ve had to make significant cuts and are leaning on our incredible partners to ensure programs such as the Book Festival, Clemente, Venture, and Museum on Main Street continue this year. We made the painful decision to pause other programs, including Humanities in the Wild and our 50-year-old Grants program.
Most difficult of all, we said goodbye to our program assistants. These valued colleagues have contributed their talent, care, and commitment to their work, and we are grateful for their service and dedication.
These decisions were not made lightly. They reflect both the seriousness of our current reality and our determination to adapt and keep the humanities alive and accessible throughout Utah. With your continued support, Utah Humanities will survive these challenges. We remain committed to creating opportunities for communities to experience, explore, and engage with the humanities.
Many of you have asked what you can do to help. Keep showing up to events. Continue calling the people who represent you and let them know why the humanities matter to you. Give financially if you can.
Finally, we are proud to share our 2024 Annual Report, which highlights the tremendous impact of our statewide work in partnership with organizations throughout Utah. Press the image below to view the report, and feel free to share it widely and use it in your own efforts on our behalf.
We’ll weather this storm together and emerge stronger on the other side.
Sincerely,
Jodi Graham
Executive Director, Utah Humanities
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