Cal Humanities

"The understanding of a culture comes from hearing the language, tasting the food, seeing personal interactions, experiencing the traditions, and so much more in context."

— Elizabeth Laval & Candice Pendergrass, Sikh Youth Public History Project

"The understanding of a culture comes from hearing the language, tasting the food, seeing personal interactions, experiencing the traditions, and so much more when it is in context."

— Elizabeth Laval & Candice Pendergrass, Sikh Youth Public History Project

Tools of the Trade

Tools of the Trade promotional banner, showing a graphic with hands cradling a toolbox and program dates of October 2020 to September 2022

Tools of the Trade: A Practical Series for Humanities Programmers

To support the public humanities field and promote its recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, California Humanities organized and delivered a series of free online learning sessions in 2020-2022. Aiming to build and rebuild the capacity of individuals and organizations to provide relevant, responsive, and engaging humanities programs, Tools of the Trade enabled California Humanities’ grantees and partners to share their innovative and creative work with others in the field.   

Each of the six sessions featured short presentations by programmers working in various settings – museums, libraries, community-based nonprofits, and educational institutions — who shared lessons learned from their own experiences about a range  of topics: effective modes of online and physically distanced programming; reaching new and underserved audiences; providing welcoming and inclusive experiences for people with disabilities; and gaining greater visibility and recognition.  Discussions among the participants were moderated by humanities experts and driven by comments and questions posed by attendees to provide opportunities for anyone interested in the public humanities field, wherever they might be situated, to share their insights and hear from others.   

Recordings of each session, along with other resources, are available to anyone interested in learning more about these topics.  We hope that you, too will find inspiration and valuable information by watching these, available below. 

Tools of the Trade was produced by Felicia Kelley, Project and Evaluation Director, and Kirsten Vega, Associate Program Officer, with support from other California Humanities staff members, board members, and grantees and partners.

Tools of the Trade Experiences