The Florida Humanities Council The programs of the Florida Humanities Council annually touch Floridians in every region of the state. From our family reading and discussion programs and engaging Speakers Series, to our exhibition partnership with the Smithsonian Institution, and summer seminars for teachers and high school students, we are dedicated to convening Floridians in community conversations that bring us together and deepen our understanding of Florida. Museum on Main Street Museum on Main Street is a partnership program that brings Smithsonian Institution exhibitions, resources, and programming to small towns across the state. Exhibitions are designed to engage communities and become a catalyst for conversation about life in small-town America. PrimeTime Family Reading Time PrimeTime is a six-week reading and discussion program for families with young children. Held in public libraries and community centers, this program demonstrates how literature can enrich one s life, models strategies for continued family bonding through award-winning children s books, and provides families with critical information on library resources. Florida Stories Walking Tour app Our downloadable walking tour app allows users to delve behind the scenes of Florida towns with an emphasis on their respective history, culture and architecture. Connected via a statewide platform, the tours create sustainable cultural tourism products that increase knowledge about and appreciation of local history. 2016 Our Year in Numbers Statewide: $470,500 awarded in funding for 68 local cultural and heritage projects 105,750 people attended public programs 350,000 people viewed our documentary film about Tampa Bay area veterans 71,750 visitors to Smithsonian Institution Museum on Main Street exhibits in 8 small towns 30,000 FORUM magazines reached more than 75,000 readers 11,640 students statewide participated in Poetry Out Loud competition 446 underserved children and families participated in PrimeTime Family Reading Time 263 teachers attended multi-day seminars on topics ranging from Florida agriculture to colonial St. Augustine
THE MAGAZINE OF THE FLORIDA HUMANITIES COUNCIL SPR ING 2016 FLORIDA VETERANS: Bringing war home HOW FLORIDA BECAME THE STATE TO WATCH IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS THE POETRY OF BUGS A VILLAGE THRIVES IN THE EVERGLADES FORUM30_icovers.indd 1 3/18/16 1:36 PM
Florida Humanities Council Our Work 2014 2016 District 24 Congresswoman Frederica Wilson Pulitzer Prizes Campfire Initiative In recognitionn of the 2016 centennial of the Pulitzer Prizes, Presidential historian Jon Meacham gave a free public lecturee on The Art of Leadership: Lessons from the American Presidency in January 2016 at the University of Miami Maurice Gusman Concert Hall. Program partner: University of Miami Center for the Humanities (total attendance = 550) Museum on Main Street A partnership program with the Smithsonian Institution that brings high quality, nationally touring exhibits to small towns and underserved communities across Florida. Art Gallery 21, Wilton Manors (exhibit coming March May 2017) Curtiss Mansion, Miami Springs (September October 2016; over 5,000 people toured the exhibit and attended 11 public programs) Pinecrest Gardens, Pinecrest (September October 2015; over 8,250 people toured the exhibit and attended 13 public programs) Veterans As part of the National Endowment for the Humanities Standingg Together initiative, FHC funds programming for veterans designed to explore war and its aftermath, promote discussion off the experience of military service, and support returning veterans and their families. Programs: Standing Down Using a compilation of short, powerful writings about military service by some of the world s greatest authors, this reading and discussion program allows veterans and their family members to reflect on the experiences of war and the transition back to civilian life. Two programs were held in partnership with the FIU Student Veterans of America chapter (average attendance = 16 veterans weekly at each of two, four week programs) PrimeTime Family Reading Time A six week reading and discussion program for underserved families with young children. Held in public libraries, this program demonstrates how literature can enrich one s life, models strategies for continued family bonding through children s books, and provides families with critical information about library resources. Miami Dade Six programs have been held in Miami Dade County since 2014 at the Little Haiti Cultural Center and the North Miami Public Library, serving an average of 30 people weekly. Broward Public Library Eleven PrimeTime programs have been held in Broward County since 2011 serving an averagee of 35 peoplee weekly. Branch host sites include: Carver Ranches, North Lauderdale, Deerfield Beach, Ft. Lauderdalee Lakes, Daniaa Beach, Riverland, Collier City, Tyrone Bryant, Miramar Education and Cultural Center, and the African American Research Library FHC has invested more than $55,000 in PrimeTime programming g in Broward and Miami Dade counties. Poetry Out Loud A national poetry recitation contest for high school students offered in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. More than 11,000 students participate in local competitions statewide each year. FHC organizes and hosts the annual statewide competition in March with support from the Florida Dept. of State, Division of Cultural Affairs.
2015 2016 student participation: Over 3,000 high school students from the district competed in local competitions with one student from each county sent to the statewide competition annually. Programs for Educators FHC s Teaching Florida program provides K 12 teachers with continuing education seminars that focus on humanities topics relevant to various disciplines and grade levels. Participants leave with strategies and tools for taking new content and ideas back to their classrooms and districts. Teachers served: 98 teachers from district counties (2014 2016) Speakers Series Informative and lively lectures and community conversations about Florida s rich history and culture presented by noted scholars, authors and historians. More than 1,400 people attended 21 free public programs in 2014 2016 with additional programs scheduled throughout 2017. Nova Southeastern University, Broward Public Library, Parkland Library, Fort Lauderdale Historical Society, Florida Center for the Book, Florida Memorial University, Miami Springs Middle School, Miami Design Preservation League Grants FHC annually provides federal funding for local humanities projects through its grants program. Over $130,000 in grants awarded 2014 2016: $15,000 WPBT Salsa! Miami, documentary film that explores the evolution of salsa, the world s most popular social dance. $15,000 Artists in Residence in Everglades Getting the Water Right, a photographic exhibition in the Everglades National Park's gallery that tells human stories of water in the Everglades. $14,500 Coral Springs Museum of Art Arts of War: Unlocking Veterans Imagination with Museum Storytelling Program, an expansion of a successful pilot program that helps veterans discover their creativity through storytelling, poetry, and the visual arts. $14,245 Broward Public Library Foundation Broward 100: Celebrating the Art of Community, a seven part lecture series in 2015 that coincided with Broward County's centennial celebration. $14,000 Arts at St. Johns Convivencia Miami, a six month program series exploring the crossfertilization of music, dance, art, literature and language in the medieval Spanish La Convivencia. $13,450 Old Davie School Historical Museum Old Davie School Oral History Project, creation of a digital archive of oral histories that document the town's transformation from its agricultural roots to a suburban community after WWII. $10,250 Coral Gables Museum Audio Tour for Old Police and Fire Station, development and launch of an educational cell phone audio tour of the Museum s historic buildings. $5,000 NSU Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale From Within and Without: The History of Haitian Photography, an exhibit of the comprehensive history of Haitian photography (pre and postearthquake) offering various perspectives on Haitian life and culture. $5,000 Bascomb Memorial Broadcasting Foundation Jazz History Lecture Series, an eight part series focusing on jazz s storied past. $5,000 Miami Dade College, Hialeah Campus The Other and I, a film and lecture series that uses popular films to explore issues of cultural diversity and its impact on society. $5,000 FIU Wolfsonian Art Museum Myth and Machine: Community, History and Culture Programs, a series of public programs to complement the museum s World War I centennial exhibit. $5,000 The Historic Society The Richmond Heights 49ers, a documentary exploring the developer and initial pioneers of a planned community for Black WWII veterans.
$5,000 Locust Projects Locust Talks Lecture Series 2016, public lecture series with noted art historians and curators. $4,924 Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus Smash, Hide, Steal, Share: Issues on Urbanism, Ownership and Culture in Florida, a lecture series focusing on artifacts and customs and the cultures they derive from.