NJ Council for the Humanities

  • ABOUT
    • Harnessing the power of the humanities to strengthen our pluralistic society
    • Mission
    • Impact
    • Staff
    • Board
    • Get Involved
  • GRANTS
    • Support for nonprofits to develop meaningful humanities programs for audiences throughout NJ

    • Grants
    • Grants FAQ
    • COVID-19 Response Grants
  • HUMANITIES TO GO
    • Grab and go programs that bring high quality humanities events to audiences across the state

    • Public Scholars Project
    • Museum on Main Street
  • NEWS
  • DONATE
 
 

Humanities helps community members connect and reflect about important topics.

MISSION

At the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, we harness the power of the humanities to strengthen our pluralistic society.

We don’t often think of the humanities as our best hope for building a better future, but that’s exactly what they are.

They allow us to break free from the limitations of our individual experience and to see both the perspectives of others as well as the larger social forces that affect us all. They provide opportunities to make history relevant and encourage diverse audiences to reflect on the shared human experience.

We often encounter the humanities as part of our formal education. They include familiar disciplines such as history, literature, and philosophy, as well as those less common (jurisprudence, we’re thinking of you!). But it's the public humanities which take these subjects out of the classroom to ensure that the critical thinking and reflection that accompanies the humanities is accessible to wide and diverse audiences. The public humanities programing offered by cultural institutions like NJCH, are typically, associated with four foundational areas:

HISTORY

Learning about those who came before us nurtures our identities as individuals and members of a community. Through history we also see the consequences of decisions and learn how to evaluate outcomes, providing us with tools to build a better future.

VALUES

Values are ideals we deem important. Examples of values include concepts such as equity, discipline, open-mindedness, independence, loyalty, and respect. Since they govern the way we live our lives and the decisions we make, it is important to consider and clarify our values.

CULTURE

The products of culture take many forms from fine art and classic novels to streaming television shows, rock music, comic books, and romance novels. We study them for the sheer joy they bring. But cultural products can also shed light on unstated assumptions and allow us to see ourselves and our society more clearly.

BELIEFS

Beliefs are those core assumptions which underpin our worldviews and ultimately shape our actions. Beliefs are informed by our experiences, but need not be limited by them. The humanities are a source of differing viewpoints, taking us beyond our individual circumstances and allowing us to see situations and ideas from another’s perspective.

CONTACT

Physical: 336 Friends Street Camden, NJ 08102
Mailing: PO Box 3287, Camden, NJ 08101

609.695.4838

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© 2021 · New Jersey Council for the Humanities · Site Credits · Design & Development by // DESIGN AGENCY //

  • ABOUT
    ▼
    • Mission
    • Impact
    • Staff
    • Board
    • Get Involved
  • GRANTS
    ▼
    • Grants
    • Grants FAQ
    • COVID-19 Response Grants
  • HUMANITIES TO GO
    ▼
    • Public Scholars Project
    • Museum on Main Street
  • NEWS
  • DONATE
Learn more about our Incubation & Action Grant opportunities
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