The South Dakota Humanities Council (SDHC), founded in 1972
in response to an act of Congress, is the only cultural organization whose sole mission is to
deliver humanities programming to the people of South Dakota. Through literature, history, and
other humanities subjects, the Council promotes increased cultural awareness and greater appreciation of the state's
rich cultural heritage while also emphasizing the importance of understanding the universal human experience. This
programming vision forms the core mission of SDHC. The agency supports and promotes public programming while providing
grant funding to South Dakota non-profit and educational organizations for programs in traditional humanities disciplines. For 35 years, the SDHC
has provided a host of opportunities:
Financial Grant Support is available for community organizations through Discussion Grants, Media Grants and Research Grants.
The South Dakota Center for the Book houses an annual Festival of Books, the SD Public Broadcasting literary talk show Food for Thought,
the One Book South Dakota program, The Big Read program, the youth reflective writing program Letters about Literature, and packaged reading programs.
The Speakers' Bureau program provides funding for humanities scholars to present on various topics throughout the state. An annual catalog features
over 50 presenters with more than 75 unique presentations. With this program, $5,000 is set aside in perpetuity specifically for American Indian
cultural programs.
A Teachers' Institute focuses on American Indian culture and is funded on a competitive basis annually (deadline is August 30).
Museum on Main Street brings Smithsonian exhibits to rural communities in our state. Beginning in September of 2008, the exhibition "Between Fences" will
travel to six South Dakota communities.
The Resource Center includes a lending library of videos and DVDs with topics ranging from South Dakota culture to the history of world religions.
The Council also promotes in-house traveling exhibits as well as exhibits from the statea Cultural Heritage Center.
We the People is a civic education curriculum for 5th, 8th and 12th grade students. This curriculum allows for free and reduced-priced textbooks and a
statewide civic education competition for high school students. There is also an annual workshop for teachers to learn more about this and other civic education
programs. Over 1,500 South Dakota students are taught this curriculum.
The Council is operated by a staff of five full-time professionals. The Council maintains a board of 18 South Dakotans who set policy, provide guidance and
determine programming goals and missions. The board is composed of citizens with varied backgrounds who serve as volunteer board members. There are four members
of the Council board that are appointed by the Governor of South Dakota. |
