Utah Humanities improves communities through active engagement in the humanities. Since its establishment in 1975 as an independent nonprofit agency, UH and its programs have reached every corner of the state, involving thousands of people as planners, participants, and audiences. Nonprofit organizations such as libraries, historical societies, museums, local arts and humanities councils, civic and service organizations, public radio and television stations, educational institutions, local and state government agencies, ad hoc groups, and others collaborate with UH. While UH seeks to serve the entire state, we occasionally undertake temporary initiatives that focus on selected topics, targeted audiences, or geographic locations. UH sponsors programs designed to enrich public discussion and encourage citizen involvement. We provide grants and technical assistance to nonprofit organizations and a limited number of individual grants to scholars; offer speakers for public forums, maintain a circulating library, present an annual book festival, and collaborate on projects and services with other cultural and educational leaders in the state. A volunteer board of directors, representing a wide variety of disciplines and communities, makes policy, directs planning, evaluates programs, and judges grant proposals. Not a state agency, UH is supported by an annual grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and by contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations, the Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts and Parks Fund, and an appropriation from the State of Utah.
