National Humanities Conference will come to Indianapolis to explore issues at the ‘Crossroads’

The National Humanities Conference will be in Indianapolis in November, bringing together humanities leaders, scholars and advocates from across the country to the “Crossroads of America” just after the presidential election.

The Federation of State Humanities Councils and the National Humanities Alliance will hold the conference Nov. 5-8 at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. The event will be hosted by Indiana Humanities, a statewide nonprofit that creates and facilitates programs that encourage Hoosiers to think, read and talk.

The annual conference convenes just days after a presidential election, which puts the nation at a crossroads every four years. In that spirit and in a nod to Indiana’s motto, the conference is seeking session proposals that explore the exciting possibilities of public humanities work that considers the crossroads as a decision point, an intersection and more. Proposals are due Feb. 21. More information is available at https://www.nhalliance.org/nhc20_call-for-proposals.

Registration details for those interested in attending the conference will be announced this summer.

“We are thrilled to be gathering in the vibrant city of Indianapolis, a fitting place to explore the many dimensions of living at the crossroads,” said Esther Mackintosh, president of the Federation of State Humanities Councils. “We look forward to exchanging information, ideas, and stories from this vantage point in the center of the country, where possibilities summon us from multiple directions.”

“Indiana is home to so much inspiring humanities work,” added Stephen Kidd, executive director of the National Humanities Alliance, “from the innovative programs of Indiana Humanities to the impactful projects of higher education institutions, museums, libraries, and community organizations. We are excited to engage this work as a national community this November.”

About 700 to 800 people are expected to attend the conference, which brings together representatives from state humanities councils, cultural institutions, colleges, universities and other community-based organizations to explore approaches to deepening the public’s engagement with the humanities.

“We’re delighted to host the conference and come together with our peers across the country to bring attention to the collaborative work we all do to support civic engagement and cultural enrichment in communities and colleges large and small,” said Keira Amstutz, president and CEO of Indiana Humanities. ”It’s a tremendous opportunity for us to learn new ideas and be inspired to do much more.”