Visit the Sioux City Art Center in May-September 2026 to see David Plowden’s Iowa, a traveling exhibit of David Plowden's photography from Humanities Iowa. David Plowden’s Iowa, a series of black and white photographs shot over four decades, takes a sharp and expansive view of Iowa’s rural communities and agricultural landscapes, including barns, grain elevators, […]

The Bondurant Community Library will host Jeff Stein on September 10, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. for a Humanities Iowa Speakers Bureau program. Stein—an award-winning broadcaster, historian, and author—shares fascinating stories of Iowans whose ideas, talents, and determination left a lasting mark. From the invention of the Eskimo Pie and the electric razor to nationally acclaimed […]

Join the People Active for Library Services (PALS) at the Stuart Public Library for a captivating presentation by Iowa-based storyteller, musician, and photographer Jason Walsmith. For more than 30 years, Jason has traveled across North America—touring with his rock band The Nadas, performing solo from Seattle to the Florida Keys, and photographing people and places […]

Join the Burlington Public Library for the Speakers Bureau presentation "Refuge, Torture, & Resistance: The Role of Music During the Holocaust" by Dr. Christine Beard. This deeply moving and powerful lecture-recital delves into the extraordinary and often haunting role of music during the Holocaust, examining repertoire banned by the SS Kulturkammer and what type of music was […]

Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Iowa Interiors, the debut short story collection by acclaimed Iowa author Ruth Suckow. Hosted at the Hearst Center for the Arts, this special afternoon event brings together scholars, writers, and artists from across the state to explore Suckow’s enduring legacy and her vivid portrayals of Iowa life. The program will […]

Back by popular demand! Audiences have enjoyed Darcy Maulsby’s original Speakers Bureau program “Iowa’s Lost History on the Titanic” so much they they’ve been asking for more stories. Come aboard to learn about the Iowa-born newspaper reporter on board the rescue ship Carpathia who broke the story of the century; an ice cutter from Burlington […]

Join the Lakin Library & Envisioning Center for the Speakers Bureau presentation "Refuge, Torture, & Resistance: The Role of Music During the Holocaust" by Dr. Christine Beard. This deeply moving and powerful lecture-recital delves into the extraordinary and often haunting role of music during the Holocaust, examining repertoire banned by the SS Kulturkammer and what type of […]

Join the Waukee Public Library for "Fire in the Library: Lessons from the Destruction of the Library of Alexandria," a Speakers Bureau presentation by Dr. Alexander Hall. A repository of all human knowledge, set ablaze; unique knowledge lost forever. The burning of the Library of Alexandria has left a deep mark on the memory of […]

Join The Study, North Dakota's humanities council, for the latest in a virtual lecture series as part of the In Pursuit initiative. Featuring: Jack RakoveModerator: Colleen ShoganTuesday, Sept. 15 | 7–8 p.m. CT Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jack Rakove explores James Madison's role in shaping the U.S. Constitution and the enduring influence of his ideas on […]

Join the West Des Moines Historical Society for "Diversity in the Iowa: The Case of Perry," a Speakers Bureau presentation by Jody Swilky. This lecture will capture the effects of demographic change on a once predominantly white rural community in Iowa, beginning in the 1980s and continuing today. Drake Professor Jody Swilky will focus on […]

Join Sarah Pratt, official butter sculptor for the Iowa State Fair, at the Polk City Community Library on September 22 for a fun and interactive workshop celebrating Iowa’s beloved butter art tradition. The session begins with a brief history of butter sculpting, the butter cow’s significance in the Iowa State Fair, and Pratt’s journey from apprentice […]

Join The Study, North Dakota's humanities council, for the latest in a virtual lecture series as part of the In Pursuit initiative. William Henry Harrison: The Power of Presidential Storytelling Featuring: Sharon McMahonModerator: Colleen ShoganTuesday, Sept. 22 | 7–8 p.m. CT Beloved civic educator Sharon McMahon examines how William Henry Harrison's campaign transformed presidential storytelling […]