September 2024 poetry program at Gardiner School
This past year, Elk River Arts & Lectures of Livingston, MT hosted another successful Poetry in the Classroom program with support from a Humanities Montana community project grant. The project brought four Livingston-based poets – Michael Earl Craig, Max Hjortsberg, Tessa Moeckel, and Yetta Stein – into Park County public school classrooms to introduce students to poetry and to support English & Language Arts (ELA) curricular goals. Third and fourth-grade students wrote poems, local high school students provided editorial assistance before the poems were compiled into a chapbook, and a film crew came to record students reading their final versions.
The program reached over 100 students in Park County and was well-received by teachers, students, and parents. Teachers and librarians appreciated having actual poets and writers teach students about poetry in a fun and engaging way while also meeting Montana Content Standards for the Arts. When asked about their experience one student shared, “I’ve kind of gotten inspired by poetry…it was kind of awesome for me to see a real poet and hear him read one of his poems that he made himself and that was a really nice experience for me.” In their final report, Executive Director Amy Zanoni said, “The poets, exuding their own excitement and passion for poetry, appeared to have a real impact on the kids, who wrote poems about themselves. The sense of empowerment students felt was palpable: almost every student volunteered to read their poem(s) at the end of each writing session. They also wrote a poem together as a class. It was called “Our Hope.”
To read this year’s chapbook, watch videos of students reading their poems, and to learn more about this inspiring program, visit Poetry in The Classroom – Elk River Arts & Lectures.
Congratulations to Amy and Elk River Arts & Lectures for leading a successful program and exposing Montana youth to poetry and the humanities. Thank you for your great work and partnership.
Now Accepting Mini-Grant Applications for 2025
In 2024, Humanities Montana awarded over $38,000 in mini-grants to support 21 unique organizations and humanities programs across the state. We are excited to announce that the mini-grant opportunity will continue in 2025!
Humanities Montana’s Mini-Grants are rapid-response grants awarded to nonprofit organizations and public institutions across Montana to support public humanities programs that engage Montanans in meaningful discussions about the human condition. These grants also aim to strengthen cooperative relationships among communities and cultural organizations—such as museums, libraries, schools, and tribal organizations—and enrich civic discourse among the state’s diverse cultures and across its geographical distances.
Applications for requests up to $2,000 are accepted on a rolling basis and award decisions are made within six weeks. Funding is limited and the application form will be closed after all funds have been awarded.
To learn more about eligibility, allowable expenses, application process, and reporting requirements, visit the mini-grant webpage and read the guidelines and FAQs. We also ask that interested applicants schedule a 30-minute staff consultation at least two weeks before applying. You can schedule a consultation using the link on the webpage. To see a list of previously funded projects, visit our grants awarded page.
