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Hello Friends, During this unprecedented time in our lives, my first thought is for the health and well-being of you and your family. At Humanities Tennessee, our team has been working from home since the tornadoes earlier this month. Everyone is healthy and safe, and our team hopes the same is true for you and Learn More…

Dear Friends, Humanities Tennessee is committed to public health and safety, and we recognize that the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and large-scale response across Tennessee and our country raises concerns for many. Out of an abundance of caution, we will suspend programs and events that we organize through April 30. Working with our Salon@615 partners, Parnassus Learn More…

UPDATED 3/11/20: This event is cancelled, as is the Big Ears Festival. Please see the Festival’s announcement for more information:   Knoxville’s Big Ears Festival expands to offer literary programming for the first time. Humanities Tennessee is proud to collaborate with the festival and Union Ave Books to present a reading and conversation with Richard Learn More…

How do Tennesseans determine which outlets to turn to for news? How do communities respond when access is throttled or when coverage is monopolized? What are our responsibilities to each other and to our communities to be better informed and to engage accordingly with those who make policies that govern us? These are just a Learn More…

As families and communities gather this week to give thanks, the team at Humanities Tennessee would like to express gratitude for you – our donors, volunteers, program partners, and supporters throughout Tennessee and beyond. You have helped foster community and civility in Tennessee through public programs that examine and reflect upon ideas, stories, history, arts, Learn More…

The 31st annual Southern Festival of Books turned the final page yesterday on a successful community gathering of all who love the written word. Our thanks to all who attended and supported the event. In the coming weeks, we’ll share highlights, photos, and stories that made this Festival special. If you’d like to share your Learn More…

Southern Festival of Books: A Celebration of the Written Word    “Borders and Belonging”      Borders — real and imagined — are reminders that we all have notions of belonging in particular places and particular times. Fences and gates surround our properties and neighborhoods; walls mark our territories. Whether they are meant to keep Learn More…

MARY ANNE CATON & KASHIF GRAHAM The Southern Festival of Books is a celebration of the written word. For some, it’s also a homecoming. A return to a community unified by a shared passion for ideas and books, curiosity and conversation. Two years ago, Kashif Graham and Mary Anne Caton volunteered at the Festival. Although Learn More…

The Authors In The Round dinner steering committee and Humanities Tennessee staff have chosen to take a hiatus with this event in 2019. This one-of-a-kind gathering of Festival authors, our patrons and sponsors will return October 9, 2020. Plans are already in the works to make it a memorable gathering for all who love the Learn More…

The Southern Festival of Books: A Celebration of the Written Word, announced the first list of its highly anticipated lineup of authors, presenters, programs and activities for its 31st anniversary event. Marquee appearances at this year’s Festival include New York Times bestselling authors  Ottessa Moshfegh, Samantha Power, Casey Cep, Karen Abbott, Karen Thompson Walker, Paul Theroux and author Learn More…