Humanities Texas aims to advance education and strengthen Texas communities through programs that improve classroom teaching, support libraries and museums, and foster lifelong learning opportunities. It strives to cultivate knowledge and judgment essential for a representative democracy, contributing to the state's economy, culture, and civic life. Established in 1973 as an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, it's a nonprofit supported by federal and state funds, as well as private donations, ensuring responsible stewardship of resources.
The Humanities Texas Grants Program, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), offers financial support to nonprofit organizations and institutions for public humanities programs. These include a variety of fields such as history, literature, philosophy, and some social sciences employing qualitative approaches. The program supports projects that may apply humanities perspectives to contemporary concerns and issues. Major grants are available for community and media projects, including but not limited to lectures, seminars, book and film discussions, exhibitions, town forums, teacher workshops, and the production of humanities-related media content. Programs should involve substantial participation from both humanities scholars and the target audience. Projects' competitiveness significantly relies on the involvement and qualifications of humanities scholars and advisors in the conceptualization and execution of the project. Applicants are encouraged to engage a diverse set of scholars and include perspectives from outside their organization.