Ever wondered about the origins of Bluegrass music, the legacy of Kentucky authors, or the lore of the Appalachian Mountains?
That’s exactly what Kentucky Humanities aims to explore through its mission to educate Kentuckians on the rich history, culture, literature, philosophy and anthropology of the commonwealth.
“Everyone has a story to tell, and everyone can learn from the story of others,” reads a passage from the organization’s website.
It’s a belief Executive Director Bill Goodman hopes to impress upon all Kentuckians.
“The humanities are what make you human — anything you deal with in life, whether that is speaking, reading, philosophy, music, art, pedagogy, education or literacy,” Goodman said.
But Kentucky Humanities’ ability to tell the state’s story is at risk. On April 2, 2025, the organization learned that the Department of Government Efficiency had eliminated all of its federal funding. Kentucky Humanities typically receives an $850,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, awarded through congressional approval.
Goodman said the Trump administration has proposed zero funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities — and the 56 state councils it supports, including Kentucky Humanities — in the 2026 federal budget.
“Every program and support for our administrative staff will be affected. The funding cut will be devastating to our operation,” he said.
Kentucky Humanities is an independent nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities in Washington, D.C. In addition to federal support, it is funded by private contributions. Each year, the organization supports more than 550 public humanities programs across Kentucky. Since its founding in 1972, it has invested more than $18 million in humanities programming for Kentuckians.
The organization began after the creation of the National Endowment for the Humanities at the federal level. Initially, it focused on awarding grants to various local organizations. Over time, it expanded its own programming to foster greater appreciation and understanding of the humanities statewide.
One of its first programs was a speaker series, featuring scholars who presented to civic clubs, churches and classrooms. That effort eventually led to the launch of the Kentucky Chautauqua program in 1992, during Kentucky’s bicentennial celebration. The program brings history to life through historical interpreters who portray key figures from the state’s past.
In his eight years with Kentucky Humanities, Goodman, a former journalist, has seen firsthand the impact of the organization’s work.
“We tell the story of Kentucky. We try to use that theme in all the programs we do. Whether that is a literacy program or a living history representation — we are telling the story of the people of Kentucky,” he said.
In the most recent “Report to the People,” Goodman wrote: “We brought the humanities to you — in your house, in your car, on your morning run, and in your mailbox with new episodes of ‘Think History,’ new episodes of ‘Think Humanities’ released each Wednesday, and new editions of Kentucky Humanities magazine delivered in the spring and fall.”
According to Goodman, Kentucky Humanities helps residents connect more deeply with their state. It’s not just about history — it’s about sharing the stories of inventors, musicians, poets, judges, architects and farmers from all 120 counties.
“The Kentucky Humanities has brought to life the history of Kentucky. A lot of people automatically dismiss history as not being interesting,” Goodman said. “But programs like our Speakers Bureau and Kentucky Chautauqua make history come to life.”
In 2023, the Chautauqua program presented 215 performances to schools, libraries and community organizations across 60 counties, reaching more than 17,000 people. The program added two new historical characters in 2023: a young Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by Forrest Loeffler, and Madame Mentelle, an educator of young women, portrayed by Dr. Simonetta Cochis.
Other initiatives include:
- Think History, a 90-second radio segment.
- Think Humanities, a podcast.
- Kentucky Humanities magazine.
- Speakers Bureau.
- Prime Time Family Reading, which promotes family literacy.
- KBF School Days.
- Museum on Main Street, which brings Smithsonian exhibits across the state.
- Youth Innovation in Rural America, which engages young people in leadership and creativity.
- Kentucky Reads.
- The Kentucky Book Festival.
Kentucky Reads selects a novel each year for scholar-led discussions in libraries, book clubs and community organizations. The 2024 selection is Scissors, Paper, Rock by Fenton Johnson, a family saga set in rural Nelson County.
Nonprofits can host a discussion for a $50 booking fee and receive 15 copies of the book, along with a list of available scholars.
The Kentucky Book Festival celebrates reading, writing and publishing, featuring authors from Kentucky and beyond. The 2025 festival will be held Nov. 1 at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington. A new event — the Kentucky Book Festival: Louisville Edition — will take place June 14 in the Paristown Arts District from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In 2022, following historic flooding in eastern Kentucky, Kentucky Humanities secured emergency funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities to help cultural institutions recover. The organization awarded $20,000 disaster relief grants to five cultural sites.
“In addition, we were encouraged by the NEH to come up with programming to help all cultural institutions prepare for and mitigate damage during future disasters,” Goodman wrote. “Our four-part webinar series is a fantastic resource for everyone.”
Based in Lexington, the nonprofit is housed rent-free by the University of Kentucky and serves communities statewide.
“We’ve been around a long time and are very proud of what we do. We want more people to know what we do — and what we can do for them,” Goodman said. “Kentucky Humanities exists to tell Kentucky’s story.”
To learn more, visit kyhumanities.org.
