Program Overview
We are currently offering both online and in-person Speakers Bureau events. Find an event near you, or learn how to host a Speakers Bureau event.
You don’t need to be a student or live near a college to hear an intriguing talk from a scholar or expert. In communities throughout Washington State, Speakers Bureau presenters give free public presentations on history, politics, music, philosophy, spiritual traditions, and everything in between.
Our roster of over 30 Speakers Bureau presenters is made up of professors, artists, activists, historians, performers, journalists, and others—all chosen not only for their expertise, but also for their ability to inspire discussion with people of all ages and backgrounds. Hundreds of Speakers Bureau events take place each year.
To reach as many Washingtonians as possible, we partner with a wide range of nonprofit organizations, including libraries, schools, museums, historical societies, community centers, and civic organizations. Any nonprofit organization is welcome to apply to host a speaker.
Speakers Bureau is made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the State of Washington via the Office of the Secretary of State, the City of Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, the Thomas S. Foley Institute of Public Policy and Public Service at Washington State University, the Wildhorse Foundation from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Pacific Power Foundation, and generous contributions from other businesses, foundations, and individuals.
Upcoming In-Person Events
IN PERSON: How the Movies Prepared Us for the Pandemic
Great city streets emptied of people; a population panicked; misinformation in the air. If some of our experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic seemed familiar, it might be because the movies […]
- When
- 11:00 am, Sunday
September 24, 2023 - Where
- Bainbridge Island Museum of Art
550 Winslow Way E
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 United States
IN PERSON: All the Rage: How American Politics Boiled Over
Name-calling, shouting matches, cutting off relatives, and even violence born of intense disagreements—there is bipartisan agreement that the current state of politics in the United States is troubling. How did […]
- When
- 6:00 pm, Thursday
September 28, 2023 - Where
- Red Cross Building
605 Barnes St
Vancouver, WA 98661 United States
IN PERSON: Diamonds in the Rough: The Gentrification of Rural Washington
Washington’s rural communities are rapidly changing. Formerly reliant on working-class industries like mining, oil, and agriculture, an influx of wealthy urbanites is looking for a different kind of experience that […]
- When
- 2:00 pm, Monday
October 2, 2023 - Where
- Metaline Falls Branch Library
302 Park St
Metaline Falls, WA 99153 United States
IN PERSON: Diamonds in the Rough: The Gentrification of Rural Washington
Washington’s rural communities are rapidly changing. Formerly reliant on working-class industries like mining, oil, and agriculture, an influx of wealthy urbanites is looking for a different kind of experience that […]
- When
- 6:00 pm, Monday
October 2, 2023 - Where
- Create Arts Center
900 W 4th St
Newport, WA 99156 United States
IN PERSON: The River That Made Seattle
Once teeming with bountiful salmon and fertile plains, Seattle’s Duwamish River drew both Native peoples and settlers to its shores over centuries for trading, transport, and sustenance. Unfortunately, the very […]
- When
- 12:30 pm, Tuesday
October 3, 2023 - Where
- Village Concepts of Fairwood
17010 140th Ave SE
Renton, WA 98058 United States
IN PERSON: Diamonds in the Rough: The Gentrification of Rural Washington
Washington’s rural communities are rapidly changing. Formerly reliant on working-class industries like mining, oil, and agriculture, an influx of wealthy urbanites is looking for a different kind of experience that […]
- When
- 6:00 pm, Tuesday
October 3, 2023 - Where
- Usk Community Hall
2442 Black Rd
Usk, WA 99180 United States
Upcoming Online Events
How much do Americans really know about the people and culture of Israel? How can we foster a better understanding of this intricate state and its neighbors? Join Professor Nancy […]
- When
- 6:00 pm, Thursday
September 28, 2023 - Register
- Register to attend online
ONLINE: How Latina/Latino Representation Can Improve Democracy
Latinas/Latinos, the largest ethno-racial group in Washington State and in the nation, are grossly underrepresented in powerful segments of society, contributing to what some scholars refer to as a “demographic […]
- When
- 3:00 pm, Sunday
October 1, 2023 - Register
- Registration typically opens three weeks before an event. Please check back closer to that time.