Events Calendar
In local communities across Florida, humanities-rich programming is making a lasting impact in the hearts and minds of Sunshine State residents and visitors alike. Florida Humanities is proud to partner with local community champions to bring you high-quality public programming through Community Project Grants, Florida Talks, Museum on Main Street, Poetry Out Loud, Prime Time, and more.
Alert: Due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus), some events have been cancelled or postponed. We are working to ensure that our events calendar remains accurate. We strongly urge you to call the event contact for any program you are interested in to confirm that the event is still planned.
Calendar of Events
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Legends of the AlefBet:The Origins of the Alphabet by Prof. Miriam Hoffman
Legends of the AlefBet:The Origins of the Alphabet by Prof. Miriam Hoffman
At Columbia University, Professor Miriam Hoffman spent decades researching the folklore and legends of the ancient Hebrew alphabet. Utilizing the original 1919 artistic serigraphs of master artist Ben-Tsiyon Zuckerman as well as the colorful Alefbet of master artist Michoel Muchnik, presenter Avi Hoffman will also examine each letter through its history and the literary and artistic depictions that surround it. To view this free event LIVE and via replay, please
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The Yiddish Shakespeares
The Yiddish Shakespeares
This enlightening lecture presents an entertaining and educational evening introducing the depth and beauty of the great Yiddish writers. Renowned entertainer and Jewish cultural activist Avi Hoffman, presents an entertaining and educational evening introducing the depth and beauty of the great Yiddish writers. Lecture written by his mother, retired Columbia University professor, author, journalist and playwright, Miriam Hoffman.Through both Yiddish and English poetry and prose, we rediscover the lost treasures
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Curious Rabbinic Tales: The Shortest Tall Stories by Miriam Hoffman
Curious Rabbinic Tales: The Shortest Tall Stories by Miriam Hoffman
Columbia University Professor Miriam Hoffman's son, Avi Hoffman, shares tales and legends from her popular book, "Curious Rabbinic Tales: The Shortest Tall Stories." These tales talk about miracles, heroism and cowardice, but above all, the poor folk and the wealthy. In short, anything we wouldn't say openly, we would disguise it in a parable or a folktale. Don't miss this live exciting lecture! Funding for this program was provided through
Calling Our Culture: The Destruction of Rosewood
Calling Our Culture: The Destruction of Rosewood
Calling Our Culture is a three-part series where we will explore the complexities of different cultures within our community through the humanities. In this event, we will explore a critical analysis of Rosewood, a predominantly black community destroyed in 1923 during a racially motivated attack, and other majority-black cities in Florida within the context of group economics and how that tradition among African Americans was destroyed. Funding for this program
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Amanda Ripley: High Conflict: How we get trapped and how we get out
Amanda Ripley: High Conflict: How we get trapped and how we get out
We'll be joined for an intimate conversation by journalist Amanda Ripley to talk about her tour-de-force book about how we - in our lives, in our work and in our country - navigate the unique dynamics of high conflict at a time when division is on the rise.
Hyam Plutzik: American Poet with Avi Hoffman and Edward Moran
Hyam Plutzik: American Poet with Avi Hoffman and Edward Moran
HYAM PLUTZIK: AMERICAN POET is a captivating film that revives the work of this forgotten Jewish writer who still remains a mystery. Juxtaposing memory, interviews, literature, and home movies, this film leads viewers on a journey through the life and legacy of Plutzik's modernist voice, which resounds powerfully today. Immediately following the screening, Avi Hoffman will be in discussion with Edward Moran, a historian and literary advisor to the Estate
Florida Talks- 2021 Fall Speaker Series presents Florida Keys or Bust! A History of Tourism by Dr. Cori Convertito
Florida Talks- 2021 Fall Speaker Series presents Florida Keys or Bust! A History of Tourism by Dr. Cori Convertito
Come and hear about the beginning of Key West's tourism boom! Discover the islands' history, and why the Keys remain a tropical paradise destination. Dr. Cori Convertito explores the reasons behind who came first, how did they get there, where they stayed, and what they did. People have been visiting Key West for health, sports, social, and relaxation purposes for decades, including American Nobel Prize author Ernest Hemingway, who made
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Afro-Caribbean Migration to Florida
Afro-Caribbean Migration to Florida
This program will examine the migration and settlement patterns of the various Afro-Caribbean peoples who made Florida their home and their contributions to its history and culture.
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The Cartoons of Sholem Asch: A Virtual Lecture with David Mazower
The Cartoons of Sholem Asch: A Virtual Lecture with David Mazower
Ever since a young Sholem Asch burst onto the Yiddish literary scene with his 'brothel play' God of Vengeance, he was a favorite subject for the irreverent cartoonists of the Yiddish press. They found ever more inventive ways to caricature his celebrity and outspoken personality, depicting him wrestling with rival Yiddish writers, or lifting weights to develop Popeye muscles. In another glorious image, his campaign for a Yiddish art theater
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Water/Ways Watercolor Painting Class
Water/Ways Watercolor Painting Class
The Water Color Painting Class is open to beginning and Intermediate Water Color Artists. The picture selected is one of our very own Apalachicola River and taken by our local amateur photographer Janice Brown. The Class will be held from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. For a donation of $25, all supplies provided and lunch is included. During lunch or after please enjoy the Smithsonian Museum "Water/Ways" exhibit, the Clyde
Florida Talks: Pandemics and Protests: America in 1919 and 2020 with Dr. Martha R. Bireda
Florida Talks: Pandemics and Protests: America in 1919 and 2020 with Dr. Martha R. Bireda
In this Florida Talks program, Dr. Bireda will discuss the ways in which the social climate of America in 2020 mirrors that of 1919, examining the similarities and differences as well as the factors influencing the social conflicts in each year. Martha R. Bireda, Ph.D., is the Director of the Blanchard House Museum of African History and Culture, located in Punta Gorda, Florida. For over 30 years, Dr. Bireda has
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Hidden History of Florida by James Clark
Hidden History of Florida by James Clark
Six out of ten Floridians come from outside Florida and know little of the state's rich history. The Hidden History of Florida uses dozens of stories to tell the little-known facts of Florida history. It is a fast, fun 50-minute journey through 400 years of history with lots of images all based on the book Hidden History of Florida by James Clark. This trip will leave listeners with a new
Old Davie Virtual Classroom Presents “Florida Cattle Ranching: Five Centuries of Tradition” with Bob Stone
Old Davie Virtual Classroom Presents “Florida Cattle Ranching: Five Centuries of Tradition” with Bob Stone
The Old Davie Virtual Classroom brings free opportunities for the community to learn more about the unique stories of Davie, Broward County and Florida from home! This virtual presentation with photographer and folklorist Bob Stone will explore and celebrate the history and culture of the nation's oldest cattle ranching state. As the first event in the series, the Old Davie School Historical Museum will also hold a Live Watch Party
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TalMoLab Pollution Lab
TalMoLab Pollution Lab
An investigation lab for kids 5 to 12 years old. Understand how everyday human activity affects our quality of air, land and water. Students will learn about the importance of protecting our watersheds, the effects of point and on-point pollution through hands on interaction with the EnviroScape, and connect observations of surface water pollution to groundwater by participating in an experiment that demonstrates the challenges in removing pollutants. Two sessions
Florida’s Female Pioneers
Florida’s Female Pioneers
Celebrate early innovations and advancements brought to us by Florida women! Join us for this virtual presentation by Dr. Peggy Macdonald, noted public historian and author, as she explores a selection of their stories. Hear how Dr. Esther Hill Hawks ran the first racially integrated free school in Florida; how Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, kick-started Florida's tourism industry with her 1873 book, Palmetto Leaves; and how
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Made in Florida: Artists, Celebrities, Activists, Educators, and Other Icons in the Sunshine State
Made in Florida: Artists, Celebrities, Activists, Educators, and Other Icons in the Sunshine State
For more than a decade, journalist Art Levy has traveled the state, interviewing prominent Floridians for a Florida Trend magazine feature called "Icon". The resulting interviews have been compiled in a University Press of Florida book titled, "Made in Florida: Artists, Celebrities, Activists, Educators, and Other Icons in the Sunshine State." Join the Marco Island Historical Society for a "Zoom In" presentation with Levy, who tailors each presentation to the
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History of Cypress Gardens: America’s Tropical Wonderland
History of Cypress Gardens: America’s Tropical Wonderland
Vintage photographs illustrate the story of Cypress Gardens, the world-famous tourist attraction that Dick Pope created out of swampland in Winter Haven. Cypress Gardens cemented Florida's reputation as the land of sun and fun from the 1930s to 2009, when it was sold to Legoland. The flamboyant Pope, known as "the man who invented Florida," combined a water ski show, tropical gardens, and iconic Southern Belles to create an enduring
Florida Talks- 2021 Fall Speaker Series presents Treasures from the Aztlan: Hispanic Women’s Voices by Rebecca Dominguez-Karimi
Florida Talks- 2021 Fall Speaker Series presents Treasures from the Aztlan: Hispanic Women’s Voices by Rebecca Dominguez-Karimi
Discover a different point-of-view from Hispanic women as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. In 2005, Dr. Dominguez-Karimi created an oral history collection titled Treasures From Aztlan. She gathered stories from Mexican Americans who lived during the Jim Crow era. These stories gave the individuals represented in the collection a voice to tell their harrowing accounts of survival from racist laws and practices in our culture. Many of those featured in
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Community Project Grant Application Tips and Tricks
Community Project Grant Application Tips and Tricks
Submitting a successful Community Project Grant application should not be a shot in the dark. Join Florida Humanities Grants Director Lindsey Morrison for a 1-hour webinar that walks attendees through tenets of a successful application, common pitfalls of denied grants, and strategies to ensure your application - and public humanities programming - is the best it can be. This webinar is designed for: a) Applicants recently denied looking to improve
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Voices from Florida- Victoria Machado: Sacred Waters, Exploring the Protection of Florida’s Fluid Landscape
Voices from Florida- Victoria Machado: Sacred Waters, Exploring the Protection of Florida’s Fluid Landscape
Join us online for a special series about Florida's culture, literature, and community-building featuring items from the MDPLS Special Collections and Archives. Space is limited for this online event. Registration is required. Zoom link will be emailed to registrants within 24 hours of the event start time. Ages 10+. This presentation explores efforts to restore Florida's waterways. We will investigate the motivations of environmentalists who love and advocate for these
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Stories of Florida-Con Sabor!
Stories of Florida-Con Sabor!
Our stories have never been the same since Ponce De Leon first arrived on our shores in 1513. Flowing seamlessly between Spanish and English, these personal, historical and traditional Florida tales from Carrie Sue Ayvar takes the audience on a journey into the imagination that connects the people and cultures of Florida, con un poco de sabor Latino, with a bit of Latino flavor! This event is a complimentary program
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Strange Fruit in Florida
Strange Fruit in Florida
Florida's painful history of racial violence, highlighted by civil rights activist Harry T. Moore's fight against lynching and the Ku Klux Klan that led to his death in a bombing of his home. "Strange Fruit" refers to a song made famous by Billie Holiday about the lynching of African Americans in the South.
Calling Our Culture: Stories of Florida- Con Sabor!
Calling Our Culture: Stories of Florida- Con Sabor!
Calling Our Culture is a three-part series where we will explore the complexities of different cultures within our community, through the humanities. In this event, we will explore how our stories have never been the same since Ponce De Leon first arrived on our shores in 1513. Flowing seamlessly between Spanish and English, these personal, historical and traditional Florida tales takes the audience on a journey into the imagination that
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Lunch and Learn: Dr. Joe Knetsch
Lunch and Learn: Dr. Joe Knetsch
Dr. Joe Knetsch joins us for our monthly speakers series. Bring your lunch or order one provided by Rutabaga Cafe. This program is part of the Museum on Main Street Water/Ways exhibition. Water/Ways is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and Florida Humanities. Support for the exhibition and programming was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for
Foodways & the Immigrant Journey, with Chef Douglas Rodriguez
Foodways & the Immigrant Journey, with Chef Douglas Rodriguez
An evening with globally acclaimed chef and restaurateur Douglas Rodriguez. The Top Chef Master and "Godfather of Nuevo Latino Cuisine" will share food, stories, and insights about food experiences in social and cultural contexts. The program is partially funded through a Humanities Centers Grant by Florida Humanities in partnership with Nova Southeastern Center for the Humanities.
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The Kingdom of This World, Reimagined – Artist Talk
The Kingdom of This World, Reimagined – Artist Talk
Join the Pensacola Museum of Art for a conversation between curator, Lesley A. Wolff, Ph.D., and the Haitian-American artist, Edouard Duval-Carrié, as they discuss the exhibition "The Kingdom of This World, Reimagined". "The Kingdom of this World, Reimagined" presents a selection of contemporary work inspired by Alejo Carpentier's historical novel, The Kingdom of This World, which recounts the Haitian Revolution and its profound impact on the emergent nation. For the
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Jubilee in the Jungle
Jubilee in the Jungle
Join Sacred Lands Preservation and Education for the official unveiling of two new adventures at the Anderson-Narvaez Tocobaga Indian site. Based at one of the most historic sites in Pinellas County, visitors to Jungle Prada can enjoy a new indoor exhibition that features artifacts found during archaeological digs that occurred onsite. Outdoors, follow new signage on a self-guided tour of the three-acre property to explore how indigenous cultures lived along
Saving American Beach with Author Heidi Tyline King
Saving American Beach with Author Heidi Tyline King
Florida Humanities and Tallahassee-based independent bookstore Midtown Reader are hosting a virtual reading event with Heidi King, author of Saving American Beach: The Biography of African American Environmentalist MaVynee Betsch. This book reading is part of many local events happening across the country as part of the National Book Festival, Sept . 17-26. This heartfelt picture book biography, illustrated by the Caldecott Honoree Ekua Holmes, tells the story of MaVynee Betsch,
Coffee and Conversations: Sacred Waters with Dr. Victoria Machado
Coffee and Conversations: Sacred Waters with Dr. Victoria Machado
This presentation explores efforts to restore Florida's waterways. We will investigate the motivations of environmentalists who love and advocate for these water bodies. By focusing on issues related to springs and the Everglades, we will dive into the conversations that arise when Floridians view water as essential to their quality of life. This program is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. A virtual livestream is
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Calling Our Culture: Jews of Florida: Centuries of Stories
Calling Our Culture: Jews of Florida: Centuries of Stories
Calling Our Culture is a three-part series where we will explore the complexities of different cultures within our community, through the humanities. In this event, we will explore a 60-minute presentation based on the author's seminal book, the first comprehensive history of the Jews of Florida from colonial times to the present "a sweeping tapestry of voices" spanning centuries. Despite not being officially allowed to live in Florida until 1763.
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Testimonio: Creative Writing Workshop
Testimonio: Creative Writing Workshop
Nova Southeastern University's Dr. Yvette Fuentes and Professor Emeritus Kate Waites lead a creative writing workshop focusing on authentic memoirs based on immigrant and migrant stories, informed by the Latin American narrative tradition of witnessing. This program is partially funded through a Humanities Cente Grant by Florida Humanities in partnership with Nova Southeastern University Center for the Humanities
Virtual Book Club on Black Motherhood and Health
Virtual Book Club on Black Motherhood and Health
Join the Florida International University's Center for Women's and Gender Studies for a lively, virtual discussion of Dr. Dana-Ain Davis's book "Reproductive Injustice: Racism, Pregnancy, and Premature Birth". A free copy of the book is available to all participants. Let's read together and share our thoughts on this critical topic! This program is funded in part by a Humanities Centers Grant through Florida Humanities in partnership with Florida International University.
Stories of Florida- Con Sabor!
Stories of Florida- Con Sabor!
Our stories have never been the same since Ponce De Leon first arrived on our shores in 1513. Flowing seamlessly between Spanish and English, these personal, historical and traditional Florida tales takes the audience on a journey into the imagination that connects the people and cultures of Florida, con un poco de sabor Latino-with a bit of Latino flavor! This program is a partnership between Florida Humanities and the Brooksville