Program Overview
*Out of concern for the health of our communities across the state, we and our partners are canceling all Humanities Washington events through at least May. We will continue to update you as the situation changes. Learn more about how to host an online Speakers Bureau event. Want to explore the humanities online? Check out our Cabin Fever Questions project and our blog.*
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 34 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. Each talk lasts about an hour.
To reach as many Washingtonians as possible, we partner with a wide range of organizations, including libraries, schools, museums, historical societies, retirement homes, community centers, and civic organizations. These organizations host and publicize the events.
Find a Speakers Bureau event near you. We also encourage nonprofit organizations 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, and the Thomas S. Foley Institute of Public Policy and Public Service at Washington State University, and generous contributions from other businesses, foundations, and individuals.
Upcoming Events
ONLINE: Civil Conversation in an Angry Age
At what point does a conversation become a battle? Why do some opinions inflame our emotions, leading to anger, fights, and even the end of relationships with family and friends? Philosopher David E. Smith takes a deep look at those moments when civility breaks down. By mapping the structure of how we converse, and digging […]
- When
- 1:00 pm, Tuesday
June 2, 2020 - Where
- Online Speakers Bureau Event
Seattle, United States
CANCELED: Who Was Chief Seattle?
*Due to precautions related to COVID-19, the host and Humanities Washington have canceled this event. We’re sorry for any inconvenience.* Chief Seattle wrote nothing down during his life, yet his words—both real and imagined—are known throughout the world. The result is a man made up of both historical and fictional aspects, from which conflicting messages […]
- When
- 1:00 pm, Sunday
June 7, 2020 - Where
- Shoreline Library
345 NE 175th St
Shoreline, WA 98155 United States
ONLINE: Are Salmon Doomed? Hatching a Plan to Save a Northwest Icon
An environmental necessity, a vital economic resource, and a cultural symbol, salmon play a fundamental role in the Pacific Northwest—but they are in trouble. With warming oceans, environmental degradation, and lowering genetic variability, wild salmon populations are dwindling. Climatologist Nick Bond explores the past, present, and possible future conditions for salmon in our state, and […]
- When
- 4:00 pm, Thursday
June 11, 2020 - Where
- Online Speakers Bureau Event
Vancouver, United States
ONLINE: From Mexican to Mexican-American: A Family Immigration Story
As immigration has become more hotly debated in the United States, the arguments have become cartoonish, with one side often painted as naïve and another as xenophobic. What has become lost is the human story of immigration to America, with all its complexity, heartache, and hope. Professor Carlos Gil sought to understand immigration by tracing […]
- When
- 6:00 pm, Thursday
June 11, 2020 - Where
- Online Speakers Bureau Event
United States
ONLINE: Civil Conversation in an Angry Age
At what point does a conversation become a battle? Why do some opinions inflame our emotions, leading to anger, fights, and even the end of relationships with family and friends? Philosopher David E. Smith takes a deep look at those moments when civility breaks down. By mapping the structure of how we converse, and digging […]
- When
- 3:00 pm, Friday
June 12, 2020 - Where
- Online Speakers Bureau Event
1801 Rainer St
Steilacoom, WA 98388 United States
ONLINE: Washington on Wheels: Odd and Innovative Transportation Ideas from the Pacific Northwest
Though Boeing is the best-known innovator in travel to have emerged from Washington State, there are many others. From canoe journeys to flying cars (that actually worked!), explore the history and culture of travel in Washington State. Author and broadcaster Harriet Baskas takes audiences on a tour of notable highlights of state transportation history, examining […]
- When
- 3:00 pm, Saturday
June 13, 2020 - Where
- Online Speakers Bureau Event
788 NW Alexander St
Coupeville, WA 98239 United States
CANCELED: From Mexican to Mexican-American: A Family Immigration Story
*Due to precautions related to COVID-19, the host and Humanities Washington have canceled this event. We’re sorry for any inconvenience.* As immigration has become more hotly debated in the United States, the arguments have become cartoonish, with one side often painted as naïve and another as xenophobic. What has become lost is the human story […]
- When
- 6:30 pm, Saturday
June 13, 2020 - Where
- Arlington Library
135 N Washington Ave
Arlington, WA 98223 United States
CANCELED: Let It Not Happen Again: Lessons of the Japanese American Exclusion
*Due to precautions related to COVID-19, the host and Humanities Washington have canceled this event. We’re sorry for any inconvenience.* In March of 1942, 227 Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes on Bainbridge Island by the US Army. Starting with this small community, a national strategy began, with more than 120,000 Japanese American […]
- When
- 1:00 pm, Sunday
June 14, 2020 - Where
- Floyd Norgaard Cultural Center
27130 102nd Ave NW
Stanwood, WA 98292 United States