2020 - 2020

2020 Major Accomplishments

Humanities Montana executive director Randi Lynn Tanglen, Ph.D.

2020 Impact Report

  • Humanities Montana welcomed its new executive director, Dr. Randi Lynn Tanglen, in June. Scott Crichton, former Humanities Montana board member, served as interim executive director from September 2019 until June 2020.
  • With National Endowment for the Humanities funds obtained through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Humanities Montana regranted $419,580 to 95 Montana cultural organizations. 
  • In response to shelter-in-place guidelines, Humanities Montana instituted entirely virtual programming. Virtual Humanities Happy Hour programs connected Montanans from across the state and weekly Digital and DIY Humanities emails—viewed by over 37,000 readers from March to December—encouraged readers to engage with the humanities at home.
  • In August, Humanities Montana held the organization’s first virtual townhall. New executive director Dr. Randi Lynn Tanglen spoke on “The Humanities in the Time of COVID-19,” and April Martin of the Wild Rose Center in Busby discussed the importance of CARES Act grants to Montana’s cultural organizations.
  • In October, Humanities Montana received a portion of a $1.96 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation awarded to the Federation of State Humanities Councils. The grant supported a nationwide initiative: “Why It Matters: Civic and Electoral Participation.” 
  • Jamie Doggett of White Sulphur Springs was elected to the board of directors. She previously served on the Montana Committee for the Humanities board from 1989-2001.
  • In partnership with the Big Sky Film Institute, Humanities Montana unveiled the second edition of Gather Round, a DIY toolkit for hyperlocal, personal humanities gatherings. The kits centered on four global films, Water Warriors, Taking the Waters, Scenes from a Dry City, and Connection. 
  • Amidst the backdrop of a global pandemic and economic recession, thanks to the gracious and unwavering support of donors, Humanities Montana increased donor giving from 2019 to 2020.