Indiana Humanities

Ready to win some books, Hoosiers?

Make sure you fill out the 2024 Indiana Authors Awards shortlist ballot to be entered into the contest, and don't forget to share your selections with friends! ⬇️

Shhh... we’ve got something fun to share!
 
Silent Book Club Indy will be hosting its meetup next month at our headquarters, the Nicholson House in Indianapolis. The historic home of Indiana author Meredith Nicholson, it’s a fitting place to read with other bookworms on Sept. 5.
 
Bring your best books, snacks, and drinks and enjoy reading in the house’s cozy backyard or historic library.
 
Head to Silent Book Club Indy’s Eventbrite to grab your tickets. 📚

Which one of these 2024 Indiana Authors Awards shortlists are you tackling first on , Hoosiers?

https://indianaauthorsawards.org/shortlist2024/

ICYMI: We've officially announced all shortlisted books for the 2024 Indiana Authors Awards!

Stay tuned for more ways to engage on social media, filmed interviews with authors, and more leading up to the announcement of this cycle’s winners.

Which shortlisted books are you most excited to see here?
https://www.indianaauthorsawards.org

UPDATE: This event has been postponed to Saturday, Sept. 14, due to a flight cancellation.🚨

In partnership with the Indiana State Library, we’ll be hosting Children's and Middle Grade author Gabrielle Balkan at the Indiana Young Readers Center. Attendees (ages 6 and up) will be able to meet the author, participate in mapping activities, and learn more about the National Book Festival.

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Reserve your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/author-visit-with-gabrielle-balkan-tickets-929787047087

We're ready for the final day of Indiana Authors Awards' shortlist announcements!

Here is your Debut Shortlist for the 2024 Indiana Authors Award!

The stories are personal and memorable, and we hope these books are the first of many from these promising new authors.

"The Hunger Book: A Memoir from Communist Poland" by Agata Izabela Brewer
"Tell Me the Dream Again: Reflections on Family, Ethnicity & the Sacred Work of Belonging" by Tasha Jun - Writer
"Don't Forget the Girl" by Rebecca McKanna
"Hell If We Don't Change Our Ways" by Brittany Means
"Dear Park Ranger: Essays on Manhood, Relentlessness, and the Geography of Hope" by Jeff Darren Muse
"Holding Hope: One Family's Odyssey through Lyme disease and Psychosis" by Marabai Rose

It's Day 2 of Indiana Authors Awards' shortlist announcements! Make sure you're following the account to stay up to date on the excitement.

This shortlist is straight poetry! 🖊️

You guessed it, it’s time for us to show you the 2024 Indiana Authors Awards Poetry Shortlist—featuring books that focus on everything from Lenape myth to Greek heritage.

"Doing Drive-bys on How to Love in the Midwest" by Curtis L. Crisler
"To Sleep in the Horse's Belly: My Greek Poets and the Aegean Inside Me" by George Kalamaras
"North of Middle Island" by D.A. Lockhart
"Trouble Funk" by Douglas Manuel
"Swansdown" by Donald Platt
"Daybreak and Deep" by Jessica D. Thompson

It's ! 🥕

We acknowledge the critical role farmworkers like Sylvester Friend of Prairie Hills Farm and Jeff and Zach Hawkins of Hawkins Family Farm play in our nation's food system. We had the opportunity to chat with them during a special Food for Thought INconversation last month.

Shortlist announcements have begun for the Indiana Authors Awards! Congratulations to all of the Children's titles that have been honored this year.

It’s finally time to kick off our shortlist announcements—starting with the Children’s titles! This category is full of informational, colorful, and bright books sure to entertain any young reader.

"Otto the Ornament" by Troy Cummings
"Wait and See" by Helen Frost
"Brave Miss Muffet" by Dori Graham
"Mushroom Lullaby" by Kenneth Kraegel
"Here We Come!" by Author Janna Matthies
"Purple Carrot" by Rebecca Mullin

Which one will you be sharing with the little one in your life? 🧸

Thank you to everyone who came to the debut of our "Recipes for Community" short films at the Harrison Center's FoodCon event on Friday!

The stories invite Hoosiers to consider the spices on their spoons and the stories swirled into their stew through interviews with four communities across Indiana that have added to the state's culinary heritage. Special thanks to Dani Tippmann from the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, Elke Lorenzen from the Indianapolis Liederkranz, the women in Winding Wednesday, Traditional Arts Indiana, and Arthur and Becky Harris of Harris Sugar Bush for sharing your stories.

You can watch the films from our Food for Thought initiative in full here: https://indianahumanities.org/program/foodforthought24/

UPDATE: This event has been cancelled but there are still two more Campfires you can sign up for!

Are you ready to trek and talk with us in Terre Haute? 👟

On Aug. 17, join us for one of our award-winning Campfires programs at Wabashiki Fish and Wildlife Area as we explore its marshlands and forests. We’ll learn about the history of the land as well as its relationship to surrounding communities. Plus, bird-watchers will especially love this event.

Reserve your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/campfires-wabashiki-fish-and-wildlife-area-terre-haute-tickets-838540606527

UPDATE: This event has been postponed.

Ready to chat about food, Hoosiers? 🥕

Join us in the Normandy Barn at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center on Aug. 16, where we'll discuss the future of farming during a special INConversation event, presented by Indiana's Family of Farmers!

There will be a panel of food experts discussing the choice to pursue careers in agriculture for young folks and those taking unconventional paths to careers in the food system.

The event is free and open to the public, with State Fair admission. Seating is limited, however, and registration is requested. You can RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/inconversation-we-are-the-future-of-food-tickets-948022600117

We recently enjoyed attending Summer Fiesta, sponsored by the Church of the Nativity (Espiscopal) with funds from an Indiana Humanities Action Grant.

Activities included a talk about Latino history in Indiana presented by Nicole Martinzez-LeGrand from the Indiana Historical Society, food booths, vendors, salsa lessons and history, with music provided by La Salsoteca from Bloomington.

Learn more about what our Action Grants can support here: https://indianahumanities.org/grant/action-grants/

Another free event at our house! 🏡

Listen to those who were a part of the Indy poetry scene during Etheridge Knight Jr.'s time tell stories and answer questions about his impact on Indianapolis.

EK Free Peoples Project is hosting the event, "Remembering Etheridge," on Aug. 2, starting at 5pm. During the event, Mat Davis will host a moderated discussion and Q&A on Knight's legacy.

Want more info? Go here: https://bit.ly/46t18my

Need to take a pause? We recommend writing some poetry in nature. 🌳

Wesselman Woods in Evansville is hosting its first ever juried poetry contest: Nature's Verse. As an ode to their nature preserve, they're asking participants to write a poem that honors the nature in either Wesselman Woods or Howell Wetlands, but beyond the prompt, poets are welcome to center their poem around whichever naturistic elements they prefer. You might dial in on the flora framing the preserve's walking paths or the growing creatures that call the wetlands home.

The poems will be judged by former Indiana State Poet Laureate Matthew Graham. Selected poems will be framed in the Nature Center, and two standout poets will receive cash prizes.

Submissions are due Sept. 15. Submit your poem and learn more: https://wesselmanwoods.org/poetry

We're cooking up something special for First Friday. 🍳

ICYMI: we'll be at the Harrison Center's annual FoodCon event on Aug. 2 to premiere our "Food for Thought" short films, which paint a picture of Indiana's culinary heritage through dishes from across the state.

In addition to our video launch, the event will include information about edible bugs, cooking on your car engine, food desert education, and much more.

This is a free event and registration is not required. We'll see you there!
https://www.harrisoncenter.org/first-fridays/2024/7/8/august-2024-foodcon-11

Saturday was an amazing day to be a Hoosier film-goer. 🍿

The Unearthed Film Series premiered during Heartland Film's Indy Shorts International Film Festival yesterday, which featured:

"Worm Land" by Will Wertz and Kolton Dallas
"Symbiotic Hum" by Jessica Dunn and Landon Caldwell
"Finding Our Sense Of Place In Madison County" by Moriarty Media
"Grown In Gary" by Samuel Love and Raymar Brunson
"Launching The Lagoon" by Jessica Renslow and Gretchen Sipp
"Regenerate Indiana" by the Moreau College Initiative of Holy Cross College at Notre Dame
“Root Black" by Manón Voice

Indiana Humanities supported these films as part of our Unearthed initiative — a multiyear environmental theme that explores the relationships Hoosiers have with the natural world.

Stay tuned to find out other ways you'll be able to catch these films this year!

Creative Women of the World just hosted their Frida for ALL event in Fort Wayne, which brought together members of the community to celebrate Latino culture and commemorate Frida Kahlo's birthday.

Attendees learned about Frida Kahlo's story, crafted traditional Mexican paper flowers, colored fun Frida-themed coloring pages, listened to live music and shopped from local vendors.

Want to apply for an Action Grant to support an event of your own? Go here to learn more: https://indianahumanities.org/grant/action-grants/

It's the start of a new reading season. 🧠

Books, Booze & Brains is a book club for the scientifically curious, presented in partnership by Indiana Humanities, Central Indiana Science Outreach, March For Science Indianapolis, Indiana Sciences and Indianapolis Public Library. The first gathering of the 15th cycle will take place at Ash & Elm Cider Co. on July 30, where the group will discuss "Your Move: What Board Games Teach Us About Life" by Jonathan Kay and Joan Moriarty with a local expert.

No RSVPs are necessary. See the 2024 schedule: https://indianahumanities.org/program/books-booze-brains/

We need your help!

Our award-winning Campfires program, a longtime fan favorite, connects participants with nature, great literature, and stimulating conversation with other curious Hoosiers in beautiful locations around our state. It's a blast, and we want to keep offering Hoosiers great programs like our Campfires, but we can't do it without donations from supporters like you.

Your gift will support thoughtful and exciting experiences for all Hoosiers. With your generosity and partnership, we can work in more communities across the 92 counties of our state.

Interested in investing your money into the future of humanities in Indiana? https://indianahumanities.org/get-involved/donate/

Looking for the next addition to your summer closet? Meet our Campfires Tee.

Follow the link to order yours, as well as register for our upcoming Campfires events – sparking conversation in nature in fresh and surprising ways.

https://indianahumanities.org/program/campfires/

We are thrilled to announce that we will be debuting brand-new food-related short films at the Harrison Center's annual FoodCon event this year! 🎥

On Friday, Aug. 2, we'll be featured in a lineup that includes edible bugs, cooking on your car engine, and food desert education with our "Food for Thought" visual stories that paint a picture of Indiana's culinary heritage.

This is a free event and registration is not required. We'll see you there!

https://www.harrisoncenter.org/first-fridays/2024/7/8/august-2024-foodcon-11

Interested in learning how to preserve oral history? You're in luck!

Digital Indy, the Indianapolis Public Library's digital archive, is hosting a free full-day training on how to conduct your own oral history projects on August 10. Their event, Preserving Community Voices, an Oral History Symposium, will go in-depth on how to preserve oral histories while keeping equity and integrity in mind.

In addition to learning about the technologies and processes that go into preserving oral history, the symposium, which was supported by an Action Grant from Indiana Humanities, will feature keynote speaker Doug Boyd, director of the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History at the University of Kentucky, a recognized world leader and innovator in the collection and preservation of oral histories.

RSVP here: https://bit.ly/4bJ2D12

Join us tomorrow at Kan-Kan Cinema & Restaurant! 🍿

The featured film is North Putnam, which was supported by a grant from Indiana Humanities. It was filmed over the course of one year, depicting the daily life of North Putnam's school district. Following a fly-on-the-wall, discreet filmmaking approach, the film aims to show the need for community within public schools.

Directly after the film, there will be a discussion on takeaways from the movie with Senator Andrea Hunley, Terry Spradlin, Chris Lagoni, Dustin LeMay, and Representative Beau Baird.

To learn more and snag some tickets, go here: https://bit.ly/4bVnFu6

ICYMI: the first of our three Food for Thought INconversations was a success!

We appreciate all the Hoosiers who came out in Fort Wayne to talk about where our food comes from and how it gets from the farm to our forks. There was a powerful sense of community in the room and we're thrilled to have played a small part in connecting neighbors to some of the hardworking farmers and ag experts in their community.

Big thanks to Wunderkammer Company for hosting us and to our friends at Indiana's Family of Farmers, Indiana Corn Marketing Council, Indiana Soybean Alliance, and Indiana Grown for their support.

Mark your calendars: our next food-related discussion will take place on Aug. 16 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center! We'll be talking about youth in agriculture and the future of food in Indiana. Stay tuned for more information.

We're only 10 days away, movie-goers! 📽️

You're invited to join Indiana Humanities and Heartland Film for the premiere of seven new short documentary films about Hoosiers and their connections to the land.

During the Indy Shorts International Film Festival on July 27 at Newfields, you'll be able to explore these films and the stories they tell about Indiana landscapes. The films are part of our Unearthed initiative — a multiyear environmental theme that explores the relationships Hoosiers have with the natural world.

The short films included in this premiere are "Worm Land" by Will Wertz and Kolton Dallas; "Symbiotic Hum" by Jessica Dunn and Landon Caldwell; "Finding Our Sense Of Place In Madison County" by Moriarty Media; "Grown In Gary" by Samuel Love and Raymar Brunson; "Launching The Lagoon" by Jessica Renslow and Gretchen Sipp; "Regenerate Indiana" by the Moreau College Initiative of Holy Cross College at Notre Dame; and “Root Black" by Manón Voice.

Learn more: https://indianahumanities.org/event/indy-shorts-spotlight-indiana-humanities-unearthed-cohort/

Calling all adventurers in northern Indiana! 📣

Join us for our next Campfires event at Miller Woods on July 20 from 7:30-9:30pm.

Tickets are free for this one, and we invite you to join us for a special full-moon hike through Indiana Dunes National Park. We'll explore habitats unique to the Dunes, including wetlands, rare black oak savanna, open dunes, and beach as a group and stop to read short works by nature writers as we go.

The trek will be co-led by a Hoosier humanities scholar as well as a ranger from the park, and it'll conclude with a shared discussion around a campfire.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/campfires-miller-woods-indiana-dunes-national-park-tickets-846483032537

You have one more day to be a part of shaping Indiana Humanities' future! ✏️

We're currently updating our long-term strategic plan, and your voice is essential to this process. We invite you to share your thoughts with us through the survey below. Your insights will directly inform our strategy and initiatives over the next 3-5 years, and help us make the necessary improvements to enhance our reach and impact.

The survey takes about 10 minutes and will close on tomorrow, July 16. Thank you for taking the time to help us grow and thrive!

Take the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/dashboard/

Our Follow that Food INconversation is less than a week away - do you have your free ticket?

Be a part of the conversation about what farmers grow and why, and how it might get to your fork when you eat out or cook at home. A panel of area experts will be there to navigate the discussion and answer questions at the end.

The moderator for the evening will be Nathan Shoaf, urban agriculture state coordinator with Purdue Extension. Joining him will be Sylvester Friend, farmer/co-owner, Prairie Hills Farm; Jeff and Zach Hawkins, farmers, Hawkins Family Farm; and Jain Young, administrator, Heartland Communities.

Reserve your seat: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/inconversation-follow-that-food-tickets-927475663677