SEATTLE – Humanities Washington is accepting applications from individuals interested in serving on its statewide speakers bureau, Inquiring Mind. The deadline for application is April 19. 
The Inquiring Mind Speakers Bureau offers libraries, museums, schools and community organizations an opportunity to bring some of Washington’s finest scholars, authors, musicians and actors to local communities for engaging and entertaining educational programs.  Since its inception in 1984, it has impacted tens of thousands of Washingtonians in virtually every corner of the state.

Of particular interest for the 2010-2011 season are dynamic individuals whose presentations explore the stories, ideas and questions of importance to the people of Washington State. Presentations should offer information that encourages dialogue, and gives audience members an opportunity to learn from past events, better understand the present and inform their individual or our collective future. 

Presentation Information
•    Presentations should address one of the following topics:
-    Local/state/national history
-    Environment
-    Cultures of the region and world
-    Diversity
-    Healthy communities

•    Programs are roughly 60 minutes in length (30-45 minutes for a presentation with the balance allocated to discussion and questions).
•    Speakers receive an honorarium of $300/presentation and will be reimbursed for travel costs.  

Applicant Criteria
•    Make a minimum of five presentations (at a mutually agreed-upon time with potential host organizations) during the program year (September 1, 2010 – August 30, 2011). 
•    Have the ability and willingness to travel to communities around the state
•    Possess a demonstrated ability to work with a public audience
•    Have the ability to work with culturally, economically and geographically diverse audiences  

Application Timeline
April 19:    Deadline to submit online applications (available at http://www.humanities.org/inquiringmind/becomeaspeaker.php).
May 14:    Applicants notified if they have been selected for interviews
May 21:    Western Washington Interviews (Seattle)
June 3:    Central/Eastern Washington Interviews (Moses Lake)
June 9:     Interviewees notified of final decisions
August 2:    Speaker orientation in Seattle.
Sept. 1:    Program year begins.

For more information or to apply, please visit http://www.humanities.org/inquiringmind or contact Liv Woodstrom, program manager, at 206-682-1770 or liv@humanities.org. 

ABOUT HUMANITIES WASHINGTON
Humanities Washington is a statewide organization dedicated to improving life for individuals and their communities through interdisciplinary cultural and education programs that nurture creativity, promote dialogue and spark critical thinking. In 2009, Humanities Washington served more than 850,000 people in rural and urban communities across the state.

Humanities Washington’s programs include Motheread, a family literacy program; Inquiring Mind, a speakers’ bureau featuring dynamic presenters on a broad array of humanities topics; an Exhibits program which brings Smithsonian exhibitions to small museums; and grants to support grassroots humanities projects in Washington State. For more information on Humanities Washington, please visit www.humanities.org.