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Last updated on Wednesday, December 6, 2017
(UNDATED) - More than 70 nonprofits from Angola to Vevay have received funding to help bring “Frankenstein” to life in their community and participate in a statewide read of the book in 2018.
The grants are part of the year-long One State / One Story: Frankenstein program initiated by Indiana Humanities and in partnership with the Indiana State Library and Center for the Book. The program also received a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Community Read grants of $1,000 were awarded to 62 organizations. Those organizations will each hold at least three community programs tied to the book during 2018, including a book discussion. Each site will also receive up to 50 books and assorted collateral (bookmarks, posters, etc.) to promote the programs. The $1,000 project funds can be used for a variety of purposes, including to book speakers through a special "Frankenstein" speakers bureau. Selected organizations include:
Ten organizations were selected to receive a Frankenfest grant of $1,000 to hold a unique event in 2018. These communities will hold their own read-a-thon of the book, with additional festivities for participants. In addition to the $1,000, recipients will receive a "starter kit" of promotional materials, and will participate in a hands-on training workshop to plan, communicate about and host their own event. Selected organizations include:
Written by teenage Mary Shelley in 1818, "Frankenstein" tells the story of a young scientist who created a grotesque living creature through a scientific experiment and was horrified by what he had made.
"'Frankenstein' is a powerful book that raises big questions about right and wrong, how we treat other people and the relationship between science and society," said Keira Amstutz, president and CEO of Indiana Humanities. "That's what makes it such an important book to read as a community and as a state. We want to catalyze those serious conversations, but we want Hoosiers to have a little fun with the book, too."
Some highlights of the programs that will be coming to life next year include:
The Delphi, Flora, and Camden Public Libraries are working together to bring "Frankenstein" to Carroll County through book discussions for all ages. They'll also be encouraging their patrons to become scientists by providing robotics workshops and exploring the capabilities and limitations of robots during science fiction film discussions.
Visitors to the Lake County Public Library will examine the idea of synthetic humans, stories of humans creating human-like beings, through a film series and discussion of "Frankenstein." The series will use the book to explore innovations in robotics, artificial intelligence and biomedical engineering.
Participants will be electrified by the workshops offered by the Whiting Public Library. Patrons will be able to experiment with electricity as they investigate some of the scientific principles included in Shelley's text.
The Cannelton Public Library's year of "Frankenstein" programming will explore electricity, meteorology, and other sciences, while encouraging creativity through a variety of Franken-projects.
One State / One Story: Frankenstein is part of Indiana Humanities' two-year Quantum Leap initiative, which encourages Hoosiers to celebrate what happens when we bridge the humanities with STEM.
About Indiana Humanities
Indiana Humanities connects people, opens minds and enriches lives by creating and facilitating programs that encourage Hoosiers to think, read and talk. Indiana Humanities is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities and Lilly Endowment, Inc. Learn more at www.indianahumanities.org.
About the National Endowment for the Humanities
Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at: www.neh.gov.
About Indiana Center for the Book
The Indiana Center for the Book is a program of the Indiana State Library and an affiliate of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. It promotes interest in reading, writing, literacy, libraries, and Indiana's literary heritage by sponsoring events and serving as an information resource at the state and local level. Learn more at www.in.gov/library/icb.htm.
About Indiana State Library
The Indiana State Library serves Indiana residents with a variety of needs including; genealogy, Indiana history, preservation, rare books and manuscripts, reference and government services, Talking Books and Braille library, as well as the State Data Center. The State Library also leads and supports the greater Indiana library community and is a magnificent limestone building to visit. Learn more at: www.in.gov/library/index.htm.
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