Kentucky Humanities is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Not a state agency, it partners with Kentucky's cultural, heritage, arts, and tourism agencies. It is supported by the National Endowment for Humanities and private contributions.
Since 1972, the minigrant program has supported public humanities programs in Kentucky, including conferences, lectures, radio and video production, exhibits, teacher training, curriculum development, interpretive programs for festivals, book discussions, and planning for future humanities projects. These programs target adults and families outside the classroom setting, focusing on fields such as history, literature, philosophy, linguistics, arts, and certain social sciences with a philosophical or historical approach. The availability of grants is contingent upon federal funding.