About
Public Humanities at the Folger bring together anyone with an interest in the early modern world with researchers in order to explore the cultures and legacies of that time (c. 1400-1800). The Folger Institute promotes the humanities by offering programs, resources, and a variety of activities that connect the past with the present in meaningful and engaging ways.
The Folger Institute is committed to platforming many kinds of expertise and supporting work across disciplines that address inequities or marginalized subjects and which point to richer and more inclusive histories. We hope to continue expanding the innovative types of public humanities work we support each year.
Upcoming Public Humanities Programs
Shakespeare's Birthday Lecture: "Shakespeare Beyond Relevance" with Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper
Folger Salon with Douglas Clark, Jamie Gemmell, and Patricia A. Matthew
Cocktails and Conversation: "A Springtime Revival" with Douglas Clark
Foraged Mixology
Folger Salon with Mark Bland, Zainab Cheema, and Kate Doubler
Queer Dramaturgy with Alexa Alice Joubin
Folger Salon with Maria Canon, Amy Cooper, and Carrington OBrion
Fellowship Opportunities
The Folger Institute offers two application-based opportunities for public humanities funding. The Long-term Public Humanities Fellowship is designed to support significant, full-time research and public humanities project implementation for Folger audiences. Short-term Artistic Research Fellowships are open to all artists whose work would benefit from significant research related to the histories, concepts, art, and objects of the early modern world and its legacies.
Long-term Public Humanities Fellowships
Artistic Research Fellowships
Featured Initiatives
Mixology
Our series draws on the Folger’s collection of handwritten early modern recipe books to create themed cocktail recipes, trivia nights, and related online content.
Folger Foe-lios
A series of 5E adventures, set in a fantastical realization of the Folger and featuring objects from our collection. Complete with footnotes.
Shakespeare's Birthday Lecture
Every year, in commemoration of William Shakespeare’s birthday, the Institute invites a scholar to speak about Shakespeare and early modern life.
Critical Race Conversations
A series of free online sessions to address an expansive range of topics in the field of early modern critical race studies.
Before 'Farm to Table'
This Mellon Initiative in Collaborative Research featured a menu developed in partnership with José Andrés, as well as the multisensory dance/theatre performance
Past Programs
Mixology: Game Night
Cocktails and Conversation with Luis Carazo
Workshop and Community Read: "Sweet Blood" with Camille Simone Thomas
Author Talk and Reading: "The Girls of Godzilla, Illinois" with Jami Nakamura Lin
Coded Threads: Translating Shakespeare Through Art
Tarot, Magic, and the Fairy King with Performance Artist Alexander D'Agostino
Mixology: How Alchemy Gave Us Alcohol
Pre-Show Talk with Margo Hendricks and Jeannette Christensen, moderated by Kathryn Vomero Santos
Whose Democracy? Season Kickoff
Mixology (TV) Presents: Shakespeare for Swifties
Scholar Talk: Metamorphoses
Artists in the Archives: A conversation with Alexander D’Agostino and Mindy Stricke
Support our Work
If you would like to make a special gift to The Dr. Kathleen Lynch Fund, supporting the Folger Institute and public humanities, please visit the Support Us page, select “Folger Research,” and make a note in the “In honor of” or “Comments” section. Through this Fund, the Folger Institute will be better positioned to not only support and further advanced research but will invite broader and more public audiences into the Institute’s work.