About the Project
The PA Humanities Discovery Project provides us with a solid foundation for reframing the humanities – and our humanity – as a human right that is essential for creating meaningful change, addressing social challenges, and promoting human flourishing. It is an invitation for you to participate in this conversation and join the movement.
This research was a joint effort of PA Humanities and scholars at Drexel University’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design. It was conducted during the pandemic and the ongoing recovery, when humanities practice adapted to focus on community and personal well-being and the financial and human resources needed to meet the moment. Its goals are to:
- Map, network, and celebrate the humanities landscape;
- Build a more inclusive and connected community for sharing, learning, and advocacy;
- Tell the story of the humanities in Pennsylvania.
These goals reflect PA Humanities’ core values of putting people first, innovating and growing, sharing tools, and building networks. Through a statewide survey, focus groups, and listening sessions, the project explored who across the state is building community using the humanities and how cultural and humanities practices are used by people in their professional or volunteer work. It was built on the principles of emergent strategy and a participatory research design.
No person’s story should go undeveloped and untold. Every life matters. I’ve seen how story sharing can connect people from seemingly different backgrounds around their unique and shared experiences.”
Survey Participant
The project was led by PA Humanities’ Executive Director Laurie Zierer and a collaborative team that spanned programs, research, communications and advocacy, including Dawn Frisby Byers, Nick Crosson, Jennifer Danifo, Katie Jean, Karen Price, Taylor Tolton-Kain, and Jared Valdez. PA Humanities is an independent nonprofit and official federal-state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. They champion the humanities as a means to build community, educate, inspire, and make change.
Julie Goodman and Andrew Zitcer are faculty in Drexel University’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design. They led the development, deployment, and interpretation of the survey and focus group instruments. They were supported by research assistant Allison Wright. Jason Schupbach, Dean of Drexel’s Westphal College, helped to convene the advisory groups and served as counsel to the project. The mission of the Antoinette Westphal College is to unlock the creativity of critical thinkers, makers, and creators who connect ideas and solve real-world problems, transforming careers and lives.
Advisory Groups
The PA Humanities Discovery Project was advised by a cohort of 26 national and local Pennsylvania stakeholders. They formed the PA Working Group and National Advisory Board to bring wide-ranging experience and perspectives on the humanities from a variety of different sectors as we developed the project, interpreted findings, and reflected on themes and trends.
- Tailinh Agoyo, Director, We Are the Seeds, Philadelphia, PA
- Keira Amstutz, President and CEO, Indiana Humanities
- Savannah Barrett, Exchange Director, Art of the Rural
- Ben Fink, Founding/Former Organizer, Performing Our Future Project at Roadside Theater/Appalshop, Whitesburg, KY
- Patrice R.Green, Vice President of Programs, Surdna Foundation, New York, NY
- Karen Kenton, Director, Federal/State Partnership, National Endowment for the Humanities
- Pam Korza, Former co-director, Animating Democracy, a program of Americans for the Arts
- Peter Levine, Academic Dean and Lincoln Filene Professor, Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life Tufts University
- Jeremy Liu, Managing Partner, Creative Development Partners, Oakland, CA
- Elizabeth Lynn, Projects Director, Lake Institute on Faith & Giving; Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University
- Clifford Murphy, Director, Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
- Michael Rohd, Director, Co-Lab for Civic Imagination, University of Montana
- Alison Shott, Community Engagement Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
- Regina Smith, Managing Director, Arts & Culture Program, Kresge Foundation, Detroit, MI
- Vanessa Whang, Principal, Vanessa Whang Consulting, Oakland, CA
- Rodney Camarce, Teaching Artist, Graphic Recorder, and Wellness Manager, Grounds For Sculpture
- Dr. Meagan Corrado, DSW, LCSW, Storiez Trauma Narratives, LLC & West Chester University
- Daniel Egusquiza, Executive Director, Barrio Alegria
- Julia Spicher Kasdorf, Liberal Arts Professor of English, Pennsylvania State University
- Spud Marshall, Founder and Owner, My Creative Community, LLC
- Sarah Merritt, Director of Pennsylvania Creative Communities & the Creative Economy PA Council on the Arts
- Michael O’Bryan, Distinguished Resident Fellow, The Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation at Drexel University, CEO, Humanature
- Todd Pousley, Director of Community Development, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania
- Andrew Sheaf, Deputy Director, PA Department of Community & Economic Development
- Jennifer Turnbull, Co-director, Finance and Programs, Spiral Q
- Tree Zuzzio, Executive Policy Specialist, PA Department of Community and Economic Development
Funding
Major funding for the project came from PA Humanities’ federal partner, the National Endowment for the Humanities, as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, as well as the National Endowment for the Arts, and individual donors. The opinions expressed in this report are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, PA Humanities, Drexel University, or our other funders/partners.
Special thanks
We wish to thank the many practitioners who participated in our surveys, focus groups, and listening sessions. Your stories and insights were invaluable to this research. Your dedication to enriching our communities through the humanities is the foundation of this project.
Our gratitude also goes to the many state partners who helped us promote and distribute our survey, focus groups, and listening sessions, including: Pennsylvania Historical and Museums Commission, PA Museums, Office of Commonwealth Libraries, Pennsylvania Council for the Arts, Americans for the Arts, American Association for State and Local History, Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, and Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council.