Join us in honoring Bette and Bruce, the IHC's 2012 recipients of The Public Humanities Award. Given annually to individuals for their contributions to public understanding of the role the humanities play in enriching civic life and strengthening communities, Bette and Bruce are recognized for their work in bringing civic purpose to cultural life.
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At the IHC Road Scholars Speakers Bureau, our scholars are musicians, professors, story-tellers, historians, actors; sometimes they're just everyday people with a grand hobby. But, the one thing they all have in common is that their passion for their interests is palpable, inspiring and lends itself to the curiosity of an audience. Discover the Bureau today and let Illinois what you know.

"The Way We Worked" is the newest Museum on Main Street exhibit, focused on why we work and the needs that jobs have fulfilled throughout American history. "The Way We Worked" is presented in partnership with the Smithsonian Instituition. "The Way We Worked" displays through May 24, 2012 before it travels to Ottawa, IL.

Next Community Grant Deadline: April 15, 2012

WBEZ's Chicago Amplified, which records and makes available online select IHC programs, just posted The Public Square's program, "What's Brewing in Chicago? The Politics of Beer." Listen in as speakers Elizabeth Garibay of the Chicago History Museum and Pete Crowley of the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild take a look back on Chicago's history as the beer capital of the world, and the rise of microbreweries today.