Explore Report
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.
I love the fact that PA humanities is bringing people together, reminding them of humanity in a time when there’s so much polarization.”
LISTENING SESSION PARTICIPANT
EXPLORE THE REPORT
BY THE NUMBERS 2021-2024 research period
1. The humanities are essential for human flourishing and a fundamental human right.
2. Humanities practitioners are driven by passion but face challenges like burnout, underfunding, and career pipeline issues.
3. The pandemic and recent social movements have reshaped the humanities, highlighting their importance in building resiliency, creating spaces of belonging, and fostering community connections.
4. There is a critical need for mentorship and support for BIPOC humanities practitioners and emerging leaders.
5. Humanities work is undervalued and needs to be reframed to reflect its critical impact on society and personal well-being.
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.
At a Glance:
Pennsylvania’s Humanities Practitioners
The Discovery Project’s findings show how the applied humanities and its practitioners are powering communities by fostering social bonds and creating shared experiences that lead to collective action for positive change. People everywhere are transformed by the humanities, which are a vital part of promoting healthy lives and vibrant communities. This essential work is an integral part of practitioners’ identities.
This work is core to who I am as a human being – I have always sought to build bridges between people and honor the diversity of human experience. … I can’t not do it. It is a primal drive for me.”
Pennsylvania’s humanities practitioners are…
- Resilient, engaged, and passionate advocates
- Doing work in many places like art galleries, community centers, libraries, museums, prisons, universities—and more.
- Learning on the job, often without formal training
- Strongly motivated to give back and enrich lives
- Addressing the urgent challenges of our times
- Underfunded and overworked
Themes of Practitioners’ Work
- Providing a Community Hub
- Historic Preservation
- Social Justice
- Health and Wellness
- Deepening Connections to Culture
- Youth Development
Emerging Issues
- Possibility models – In absence of systematic changes, there is a need to lift up tangible BIPOC career examples as models for what is possible.
- The next generation – The future of the field
depends on addressing the needs of younger practitioners who are facing burnout, an undervalued field, and an underdeveloped career pipeline. - Volunteers – Volunteer retention has plummeted
in a shifting economic landscape necessitating a rethinking of engagement strategies.
1. Explore a strategic reframing of the humanities as a fundamental human right
2. Amplify the lived experiences of BIPOC communities
3. Develop career guidance, mentorships, and support systems
4. Boost community engagement and volunteer opportunities
5. Broaden the spectrum of resources available
6. Engage in research that lifts up the voices of practitioners
Learn more at DiscoveryProject.info
Joint project of PA Humanities and Drexel University’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design.
