Chris Gahl: Support humanities as avidly as sports in tumultuous times

Over the past few decades, it’s been rewarding to watch Indy’s visitors and residents further embrace the city’s status as the premier sports city in America. It’s impactful when Indy routinely hosts crowds for major sporting events and when residents show a relentless passion for our local teams.

At the same time, it’s exciting to see visitors and residents enthusiastically engaging in Indy’s—and Indiana’s—robust humanities offerings. And that’s why I’m writing: to shine a light on such offerings in this time of turmoil for the humanities and to ask you to support them as passionately as your favorite team or major sporting event that Indianapolis hosts.

Think about it: In Indy, murals depicting Reggie Miller, Caitlin Clark and Major Taylor are just a short walk from murals depicting Kurt Vonnegut, Mari Evans and Eva Kor, their impact honored equally with multi-story renderings. And while Indiana routinely has championship-caliber teams in men’s and women’s sports, lays claim to the nation’s largest high school gym and has served as the setting for the world’s most inspiring sports stories (no one can match the “Rudy,” “Breaking Away” and “Hoosiers” trifecta), the state also has a rich tradition of literary genius, significant museums, the nation’s largest historic preservation group and more.

Granted, “humanities” likely is not a word you use every day, but it does describe activities you do every day. When you read, visit a museum, tour a historic home, listen to a talk at your local library or discuss complex topics with others, you’re engaging in the humanities.

For 53 years, Indiana Humanities has been the engine driving support of such activities across Indiana. You might not have realized that because the people and organizations you see promoting such programs in your community are librarians, teachers, historical societies and neighbors. Indiana Humanities tends to work behind the scenes, supporting those folks and their organizations.

For example, did you attend Lake County Public Library’s September discussion about the Underground Railroad’s history in northwest Indiana? Have you explored the Bookmark Indy self-guided literary tour of Indianapolis? Have you stepped inside the Indiana Historical Society to learn about Abraham Lincoln’s ties to Indiana?

Countless events like these have been supported and nurtured by Indiana Humanities. With a mission to encourage Hoosiers to think, read and talk, Indiana Humanities delivers national-award-winning programs that inform and delight Hoosiers in big cities and small towns across the state.

This work delivers an economic impact, too. In 2024, Indiana Humanities provided 127 organizations across Indiana with more than $317,000 in direct grants and program support—funding that prompted an additional $750,000 in community investment for a total of more than $1 million fed into local programs.

Through its support, Indiana Humanities repeatedly has increased civic involvement, fostered understanding and given people in rural communities opportunities often found only in big cities. Again and again, the organization has helped us engage in thinking, reading and talking just as enthusiastically as we cheer tackling, dunking and racing.

Unfortunately, the recent cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities suddenly erased $760,000 of Indiana Humanities’ $1.3 million federal funding, casting a shadow of uncertainty over Indiana Humanities and community organizations statewide. So, I’m calling on Indiana residents, businesses and organizations to demonstrate their awareness of the impact the humanities have on Indiana. Please, make a point to support Indiana Humanities and nonprofits in our community. As our city’s visitors do daily, attend their events. Engage in their discussions. Visit their exhibits. Donate to their efforts. And encourage them as enthusiastically as you do your favorite teams.•

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Gahl is executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Visit Indy and immediate past board chair at Indiana Humanities.