The humanities are the study of human creativity and creation and encompass an array of subjects: literature, languages, linguistics, history, philosophy, cultural studies, design, architecture, art history, visual studies, dance, theatre, music, and much more. The humanities also involve the pursuit of a wide range of activities in everyday life such as reading, creative writing, dancing, listening to music, watching films and television, listening to audiobooks and podcasts, following fashion and interior design, practicing languages, attending the theatre, and visiting museums and historic sites. Engagement with the humanities helps us understand and interpret human experience, better equipping us to intervene in society’s most pressing issues.
Founded in 1984 by a generous gift from John and Joan Gaines, the Gaines Center for the Humanities serves as a hub for innovative humanities inquiry and collaboration at the University of Kentucky. We foster in our students a broad appreciation of the humanities by embracing varied paths of knowledge and integrating experiential learning with traditional academic instruction. We work to promote the humanities across campus and the surrounding community by building cross-disciplinary partnerships and leading public programming.
