History Makers: The Future is Now
Application Deadline: December 5, 2025
Do you have a plan for the future? History Makers: The Future is Now is a free, hands-on strategic planning and doing opportunity for rural museums. Inspired by America's 250th and in recognition of the importance of local history in telling America's stories, Humanities Kansas is inviting rural history museums and historical societies to apply to participate in a forward-thinking, energetic, tailor-made year-long strategic planning process led by a professional small museums consultant.
This is a competitive application with the expectation that five will be selected for the first round of strategic planning and doing in 2026. A call for participation in a second round will be announced in 2026 and will begin in 2027.
This project is supported in part by a 2025 grant from The Patterson Family Foundation.
About History Makers
It's all about rural! History Makers pivots traditional strategic planning into today's need for strategic doing. The process is rooted in capacity building and resiliency training to help rural museums navigate opportunities and challenges as they come up. Participating museums will make statewide connections with others in similar situations, receive one-on-one help, participate in giveback opportunities, and learn the tools that will help lead their organizations into the future.
Participating museums will be required to work with their local economic development, tourism, or other community-wide organization and will receive $2,500 from Humanities Kansas at the conclusion of the training to be used to chart a new future for the museum.
This is a year-long commitment and Humanities Kansas will provide stipends to help with travel or other expenses related to the project.
Questions? Contact Tracy Quillin at 785-357-0359.