The Missouri Humanities Council enables families and communities to broaden their appreciation of history, literature, and the ideas that shape our democracy.

We envision Missouri as a place where citizens are thoughtful and engaged, where our heritage is explored, our relationships expanded, and our values examined within dynamic and increasingly diverse communities.

The Missouri Humanities Council exists to:

• Develop and encourage new avenues to find and tell the story of Missouri’s people, to learn about our rich culture and history, and to identify and discuss our common values.

• Foster curiosity among individuals of all ages, by educating, inspiring, and providing a foundation for understanding the history that has brought us to our present circumstances, and utilizing this knowledge to inform the present. 

• Reach out to Missourians of all ages and from all backgrounds to promote literacy and encourage multi-generational learning activities as a means of enriching and expanding lives.

• Partner effectively with museums, libraries, historical societies, schools, and other institutions so that they may better serve communities and foster high levels of public interest and involvement. 

• Provide technical, managerial and financial support to communities, organizations and educational institutions to ensure their ongoing role in promoting the humanities.

In all we do, we will partner with local and state officials and educational and humanities organizations of all sizes to bring people together, help communities tell their stories, facilitate civil discussion, increase knowledge and awareness, and stimulate the creativity within each community.