The Humanities and the Humanities Project

The purpose of the Humanities Project is to advance research and artistic production in all areas of the humanities and the humanistic social sciences. Projects and initiatives that will significantly elevate the profile of the humanities at Rochester are especially encouraged. A basic tenet is that the Humanities Project seeks to underwrite the very best work—of whatever kind—representing the rich array of humanistic and artistic production. Fostering innovative work in both traditional and newer areas of scholarship, the Humanities Project is designed to make possible new avenues for the pursuit of research and artistic production in the humanities. Many of the projects previously funded have brought outside speakers or artists to campus, but we are also interested in encouraging new or alternative forms of scholarship and artistic production at Rochester.

The committee encourages proposals of broad appeal that are interdisciplinary in nature. It also welcomes smaller projects aimed at a more specialized audience. We encourage projects that can be expected to have a tangible impact on the UR community and beyond, and/or those that might have a continuing presence or effect. We especially encourage high-profile events of the sort that will focus regional and national attention on the University of Rochester, and that should attract nationally competitive funding to supplement or extend work funded by the Humanities Project.