Indiana Humanities Council

Emergency Flood Assistance

IHC Offers Grant Assistance to Cultural Institutions Affected by June 2008 Floods

The IHC has announced that it is offering funds to assist in disaster recovery efforts of Indiana cultural institutions and organizations affected by last month’s record breaking floods.

Libraries, museums, colleges, universities, and other cultural and historical institutions in Indiana counties that have received designation as federal disaster areas are eligible to receive grants intended to ensure the survival of significant collections of our cultural heritage threatened by the floods.

Find out how to apply.

Upcoming Events

Tyler Mueninch Artwork on Display

The IHC is pleased to have the opporunity to showcase several pieces by Indianapolis-based artist Tyler Mueninch in the library and sitting room of the historic Meredith Nicholson House.

Fit to Breed: Virtual Exhibit

The IHC is proud to be a sponsor of the Fit to Breed virtual exhibit. This online museum is a follow up to the successful Fit to Breed exhibit sponsored by the Indiana Medical History Museum and the Health Studies Program at IUPUI.

The virtual exhibit's planned launch is July 31st.

IHC Grant Deadline

The Indiana Humanities Council is pleased to announce its 2008 Grant guidelines. This year we are offering special priority to all requests for grant funding for programs that address our 2008 theme of immigration.

The next (and last) grant deadline is September 2nd. Mark your calendars to give yourself plenty of time.

Publications

Report on Foreign Language Learning

Report on Reading Indiana Initiative

Thought

"Immigration is the sincerest form of flattery."

~Jack Parr

Programs sponsored in part by:

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REQUEST FOR BOARD NOMINATIONS

The Council

The Indiana Humanities Council (IHC) is a statewide organization dedicated to public involvement with the humanities. The public is invited to nominate scholars and public citizens to serve on IHC's Board of Directors.

The Council has a tradition of extensive and productive relations with the educational, cultural, philanthropic, and business community in Indiana. The Council's program has been shaped by the ideas and contributions of the 100+ distinguished Hoosiers who have served on its board. Through its programs and services, the Council has become a leader, key parnter, and trusted voice in providing a humanities perspective to issues crucial to a changing Indiana.

Founded in 1972 and headquartered in Indianapolis, IHC is the official state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The Council receives substantial annual support from the NEH. Major funding for the Council's projects also comes from private gifts, grants and contributions. IHC is a nonpartisan, independent, not-for-profit corporation governed by a volunteer board of 18-30 Indiana educators and community leaders. Six of the directors are nominated by the Board of Directors and appointed by the Governor of Indiana, while the others are selected from nominations solicited annually from the public.

The Staff

A President serves as Chief Executive Officer of the organization. The President is extensively engaged with the Board of Directors. The President supervises the staff. Board members work closely with staff through committees and in coordination with the President.

The Board of Directors

A strong Board of Directors is necessary for IHC to continue its work of developing the support, resources, connections, and public enthusiasm necessary to achieve its goals. Because the Council seeks to serve all the people of Indiana, diversity on the Board of Directors is essential. The Board is a geographically, ethnically, and professionally diverse governing body. Board members' active involvement in IHC is vital to the success of the organization.

The members of the IHC Board of Directors bring energy, access, and insight to the work of the Council. Membership is comprised of scholars and public citizens who have made significant contributions to the humanities and civic life and are interested in providing for the leadership in Indiana through the Council. The IHC Board of Directors articulates IHC philosophies, establishes IHC policy, and is responsible for the financial integrity of the Council.

Service on the IHC Board of Directors requires commitment, dedication and willingness to devote time and effort to the organization. Each member contributes to the work of the Council through a commitment of time and expertise and financial contributions. In partnership with IHC staff, the Board helps to focus, direct and extend the Council's work throughout the state. IHC Board members:
- prepare for meetings.
- serve actively on one Council committee/project.
- actively assist in fund raising and make a personally significant annual financial contribution.
- enlist the aid of legislators and the general population in support of Council goals.
- debate and act on program priorities and grant policies.
- promote and advertise the work of the Council to the public at large.
To be a director, an individual must be a resident of the state of Indiana. Currently all Board members are donors to the Council. In addition, members are asked to assist in resource development.

We seek members who can bring access to additional financial, human, and policy resources to the Council's work. The tradition of the Board is to identify members who bring a love of the life of the mind and a commitment to the purposes of the Council in the state.

Membership involves a minimum of 6 to 8 days of time annually for a three-year term. Elections are held in October for terms beginning November 1.

The board meets as a full body four times each year. The meetings are most often held in Indianapolis on a Friday. One meeting per year is a planning and evaluation retreat typically hosted by a member of the board in his or her own community. This meeting runs from Thursday through Friday.

Attendance at these meetings is a basic responsibility of each member. One-third plus one of all voting directors of the Council must be present in person to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. There are no proxy votes. An individual who is absent for three consecutive meetings will be assumed to have resigned unless satisfactory reasons for non-attendance are submitted to and accepted by the Board.

To nominate yourself or another individual for election to the Indiana Humanities Council Board of Directors, please write to Ms. Catherine O'Connor, Vice President, Indiana Humanities Council, 1500 N. Delaware Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202.