Wyoming Humanities aims to leverage the humanities to bolster democracy, develop a deeper understanding of the Wyoming narrative, and foster engaged communities. Founded in 1970 as an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and an independent non-profit, it seeks to unite public and private funding to serve all communities across Wyoming by facilitating understanding and appreciation of the humanities.
SPARK Grants focus on projects that are humanities-centered, aiming to explore and delve into human cultural expressions such as history, arts, literature, philosophy, religion, laws, cultural studies, and languages. These grants support projects built around public events aimed at directly engaging audiences without charging admission. Eligible projects may include storytelling circles, live play readings and discussions, panel discussions on historical and social justice topics, and humanities scholar-led tours. The grant program emphasizes the importance of public engagement and accessibility, with funded projects required to start a minimum of 30 days after the grant application date and decisions announced shortly thereafter.