Humanities Desk

As the state celebrates its 150th birthday, Nebraska storytellers are celebrating the stories that have helped form the state. They're trying to preserve and encourage storytelling as an art form in Nebraska and think everybody has a unique story to tell.

As Nebraska continues its 150th birthday celebration this year, another staple of Midwestern life is even older. The Nebraska State Fair, which ends on Monday, has been around since 1859, eight years before the territory actually became a state. It’s fair to say the State Fair has a rich and sometim...

In Springfield, Missouri, a residential neighborhood lined with painted utility poles is becoming a new destination for artists. The poles display work ranging from love of nature to community pride, and help outline the Moon City Creative District’s 10 square blocks.

A decade-old idea to have three very different religions share one piece of land in Omaha is now a lot closer to reality. The parts of a rare interfaith partnership are quickly coming together as members of three congregations embark on an ambitious religious experiment.

A huge mural that covers the entire side of a downtown Omaha building is getting a facelift eight years after it was completed. A faulty sealant was causing the massive outdoor painting to develop a cloudy white film that dulled its bright colors. A team of artists is now hard at work, getting what...

There are more than a thousand inmates at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln and about 20 of them are trying to talk their way out of prison. It’s not quite that simple, but a program that’s been around for almost four decades is helping prisoners learn how to use words to help themselves. T...

In the middle of a cornfield in central Nebraska, an oasis of art is growing. Art Farm, situated off a long dirt road outside the small town of Marquette, started back in 1993 as an artist residency program. Since then, it’s become a one-of-a-kind experience many artists can’t resist.

It’s known mostly as a farming community, but Grand Island is hoping a new push for public art will add a metropolitan flavor to the central Nebraska city. The civic art effort is part of a plan to make it more attractive to a new generation of residents.

Tucked into rolling hills in the southeast corner a Nebraska, a college campus is celebrating an impressive anniversary. Peru State College was deeded into existence as the first state-supported college 150 years ago this Tuesday, June 20, 2017. The school has had its ups and downs, but has survived...

It’s been a decade-long process, but tomorrow, the National Willa Cather Center will officially open in Red Cloud in south central Nebraska. The facility is a testament to the enduring popularity of a writer who died 70 years ago and to the dedication of some of her biggest fans.