Last week marked a big transition. We moved out of our office, we gathered our leaders together, and we charted a path for the next six months.
The Move ... After our federal funding was terminated, we had to lay off most staff and suspend all our programs. We also ended our lease. Last week we completed clearing out our office, stowing decades of history. Thanks to Peter Robertson and Tribe 9 Foods for the free storage space and more! Thank you to our friends at the Wisconsin Arts Board and Wisconsin Historical Society for taking Love Wisconsin books. Thanks to the UW-Madison archivists for preserving so much. And thanks to our friends at Universities of Wisconsin for all the support, including storing all our digital records.
The Gathering... The Wisconsin Humanities board met last week in person. Thanks to the UW-Madison Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures for hosting! I was so glad to be in the same space -- in-person and virtually -- with board members who navigated this painful, stressful time. Now we must reimagine and reorganize WH to focus our efforts for the next six months -- a critical time while we still have three staff and hope for a return of federal funding in the 2026 federal fiscal year. Thanks your response to our Next Chapter campaign, we're sure to still be here then.
The Path... Wisconsin Humanities board members settled on three priorities for our path forward for the next six months. Please join us in pursuing them! Here they are:
Congressional Advocacy. Congress is working right now on the federal budget for the fiscal year that starts October 1, 2025. The President's budget calls for shutting down the National Endowment for the Humanities. Will Congress vote to fund the NEH and state humanities councils? Maybe! WH will keep track of developments for you. Making your voice heard is urgent. The House of Representatives will decide on its version of the budget, and its appropriation for the NEH and state humanities councils very soon. So now is good time let Congress know how you feel about funding for Wisconsin Humanities. Here's where to find information on how to contact your members of Congress! All you need to do is pick up the phone and tell them that you want to see level funding of $65 million for the Federal/State Partnership of the National Endowment for the Humanities so that Wisconsin once again receives the funds that make a difference in your Congressional district.
Connecting our statewide community. You know how crucial the public humanities are to the civic life of Wisconsin. Wisconsin Humanities has played a unique role for 53 years by supporting and connecting organizations and individuals throughout Wisconsin who make our communities culturally vibrant and civically healthy. This newsletter, our social media, our Human Powered podcast, and upcoming virtual and in-person listening sessions are tools we will use now to bring people together. We need to share everyone's positive visions for our state, and build on our strengths and resources, to ensure that Wisconsin's civic and cultural life remain vital.
Private fund development. The loss of federal funding brought home the lesson we already knew: Wisconsin Humanities cannot depend upon federal funding to sustain our mission to strengthen democracy through educational and cultural programs. The Next Chapter Campaign's success over the past two months has been amazing, thanks to all of you. And it is just the beginning! Thank you for your financial support!! Without it I would not be here to carry the message forward about the humanities in Wisconsin. Please join me in continuing to support our communities throughout Wisconsin.
