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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…

Join Humanities Tennessee on Thursday, July 18th, for the 2019 Southern Festival of Books Reveal Party at Smith & Lentz Brewing Co.! We will announce the initial author list for the 31st annual Festival (taking place October 11-13 in downtown Nashville) and unveil this year’s artwork. This is a free event and is open to Learn More…

Margaret Renkl, the founding editor of Chapter16.org, the literary website of Humanities Tennessee, will step down May 31 after ten years. Current managing editor Maria Browning will assume the editorship of the site, which reaches approximately 500,000 Tennesseans monthly through its website and statewide newspaper partnerships. Renkl is the author of the forthcoming Late Migrations: Learn More…

Humanities Tennessee conducts and supports public humanities programming across the state. We focus on local history, literary arts, and civic life, and our work sparks conversations and builds stronger communities across Tennessee.