Public Humanities Programming in Rural Montana

Humanities Montana, the state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities, provides public humanities programming to the entire state. This is an enormous challenge: Montana ranks 48th among states in population density and the distance between its western and eastern borders rivals the distance from Chicago to New York City. Through its Hometown Humanities initiative, the council has partnered with a different small community each year since 2012 to produce a full slate of 25–35 humanities programs. Hometown Humanities has been held in Miles City, Dillon, Lincoln County, Havre, Livingston, Sidney, and Red Lodge, and the number of communities applying for the program has increased steadily each year.

“The opportunity to host Hometown Humanities was wonderful. It has provided a new means for our community to discuss topics that are not necessarily comfortable. People are asking that we continue to do more.”

–Miles City Public Library

Miles City high school students participate in a traditional barn dance. Photo courtesy of Humanities Montana.

Every year, participating communities and institutions—including churches, libraries, museums, schools, restaurants, parks, and prisons—benefit from the council’s substantial injection of resources, energy, and know-how. Humanities Montana offers each community its full menu of programs, including Montana Conversations and Speakers in Schools, and creates new programs grounded in local culture and concerns. For example, the public library in Miles City facilitated a community conversation about the energy boom transforming eastern Montana. In the more agriculture-centered community of Dillon, Bill Milton of the Montana Water Supply Initiative facilitated a remarkably constructive community conversation about the contentious issue of water rights involving 150 diverse stakeholders, including environmentalists, developers, ranchers, and recreationists.

The intensive year of collaborative programming strengthens the relationship between these communities and the council. In every case, there has been a sustained increase in the number of Humanities Montana programs in former host communities, evidence that the council is succeeding in expanding its reach through the program. And in recognition of the program’s impact, Hometown Humanities was awarded the 2015 Helen and Martin Schwartz Prize for outstanding public humanities programs by the Federation of State Humanities Councils.

Residents of Livingston discuss the local economy and housing issues at Katabatic Brewing as part of the Livingston Livelihoods Community Conversation Series. Photo courtesy of Humanities Montana.