Category: In the News

Wyoming Chronicle, Season 17 Episode 16: Wyoming Humanities Endures

By Wyoming Humanities | April 10, 2026

Executive Director, Chloé Flagg, of Wyoming Humanities is interviewed by Steve Peck of Wyoming Chronicle on the organization’s experience since the termination of NEH General Operating Support Grants for State Humanities Councils in April 2025.

While this episode aired on March 27, 2026, this interview was conducted in December of 2025, and there have been several updates for Wyoming Humanities since then. This document offers clarification, links to other information, and most importantly updates to Wyoming Humanities’ programming and both State of Wyoming and Federal funding.

Wyoming Chronicle is a weekly public affairs program produced by Wyoming PBS, featuring in-depth interviews with the innovators, leaders, and icons who shape the “Equality State.”

Wyoming Humanities is an independent 501(c)3 charitable organization that is governed by a board of private Wyoming citizens who believe the humanities can help us better understand the issues of our times. Since our inception in 1970, Wyoming Humanities has invested in the cultural infrastructure of our state by supporting the institutions, traditions, and conversations that keep our shared heritage alive.

Updates to the facts, as of April 10, 2026, by chapter:

0:00 – Introduction: A Funding Crisis in Wyoming

0:45 – The Downsizing of Wyoming Humanities

1:36 – Impact of the $870,000 Federal Funding Cut

  • Since the 2011-12 biennium, Wyoming Humanities has received funding from the State of Wyoming by way of an exception line budget request that passes through the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources (SPCR) budget.
    • Our most recent request for $150,000 State dollars annually was not approved during the 2026 State of Wyoming Legislative session.
    • Wyoming Humanities has ushered 100% of these dollars into communities across Wyoming to support public humanities programming that adds to our quality of life, through Spark Grants and Community Culture Grants.

3:13 – Chloé Flagg’s Transition to Executive Director

  • Chloé Flagg started at Wyoming Humanities in May of 2021 as the Grants and Programs Director.
    • Appointed Interim Executive Director June 2025.
    • Appointed Executive Director in September 2025.

4:12 – What is Wyoming Humanities? (History & Mission)

  • Wyoming Humanities Board of Directors now consists of 14 members, including four members appointed by the State of Wyoming Governor’s Office, and the director of the Wyoming Institute for Humanities Research at the University of Wyoming and the Executive Director of the Wyoming Community College Commission serve as ex-officio members.

6:47 – How Grant Money Supports Local Museums and Festivals

8:25 – The End of the Podcast Program and “Spark Grants”

  • The program featured on the screen at 9:23 is not for our Spark Grants Program. This was for another program that was cut after April 2025: an affiliation with the Smithsonian called Museum on Main Street that toured Smithsonian produced travelling exhibits to communities throughout Wyoming.
  • Without private support or other avenues for securing State of Wyoming dollars, Wyoming Humanities is currently (as of 4/10/2026) unable to offer any grants.

10:28 – The “Midnight Email” from the NEH

13:45 – Congressional Funding vs. Administrative Decisions

16:18 – Why Democracy Demands Wisdom: The Case for the Humanities

18:37 – What’s Next? State Funding and Current Projects

  • Funding from the State of Wyoming to support Wyoming Humanities grants programs no longer exists. Our most recent request for $150,000 State dollars annually was not approved during the 2026 State of Wyoming Legislative session.
  • Wyoming Center for the Book

19:31 – The Wyoming Center for the Book & Literacy Tours

22:03 – Working with the Wyoming State Legislature

24:45 – Building a New Future for the Organization

26:08 – Conclusion and Support for the Humanities

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