State of the Humanities MKE

Join the Center for 21st Century Studies (C21) at UW-Milwaukee for a panel discussion that explores how Milwaukeeans and MKE organizations might sustain, expand, and care for the humanities across our city.

In October 2024, the Consortium for Humanities Centers and Institutes' World Humanities Report warned of extinction risk to human knowledge. In the year that's passed since that report's publication, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting lost its federal funding, the National Endowment for the Humanities was radically restructured, causing state humanities agencies to lose funding to the point of near closure, and multiple U.S. universities have taken steps to shrink, pause, or shutter humanities degree-granting programs.

But the resilience of humanities practices and institutions in the face of so much uncertainty evinces their value, and merits further dialogue.

The State of the Humanities MKE panel invites four Milwaukee-based humanities advocates—Michael Carriere (MSOE), Art Derse (MCW), Jodi Eastberg (MIAD), and Maggie Nettesheim Hoffmann (Marquette)—to discuss:

• What's important about the humanities in Milwaukee, especially in our current moment?
• What are we fighting to sustain, expand, or ideate?
• How can we care for the humanities in MKE? What does this look like?

After the panel, guests are invited to head upstairs to C21's headquarters for a reception and small breakout discussions about actionable steps everyone can take to make Milwaukee a haven for humanists.

This event is free and open to the public. Space is limited. Prior registration is required.

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Not familiar with UWM’s campus?

We recommend parking in the UWM Student Union parking garage or the Lubar Business parking garage, which are $3 for the first hour, then $1 for each additional hour. The Zelazo Surface Lot offers limited free parking after 3PM. Free, time-limited street parking is available in the neighborhoods near Curtin Hall.

Curtin Hall is the tall, Brutalist building located just off Downer Ave. You can find us on this interactive campus map.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Curtin Hall, 3243 North Downer Avenue, Milwaukee, United States