Why Public Humanities Matter in Charlotte, Tennessee

In this special episode, we're speaking with Serina Gilbert at Promise Land Heritage Association in Charlotte about her experiences working with Humanities Tennessee and how she imagines their museum will be impacted if our organization is forced to stop our work because of the termination of our federal funding.

On April 2, 2025, all of the state humanities councils - including Humanities Tennessee - received notice that our federal funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities was terminated effective immediately. Humanities Tennessee receives approximately $1.2 million annually from the NEH. We leverage this public investment with additional individual, foundation, and corporate contributions to fund programs and projects throughout the state. 

We need your support to speak to the value of history, cultural studies, stories, ideas, literary arts, and public humanities programming for everyone in Tennessee. Together, we foster connection and community, and this work is more essential than ever! Please contact your elected officials and ask them to reinstate FY25 funding to allow Humanities Tennessee and all the state humanities councils access to the funds already appropriated by Congress and approved through the most recent Continuing Resolution (CR). Without these funds, we will be unable to continue operating. We also welcome individual gifts to support our work.