News

REGISTRATION OPENS IN NOVEMBER HMN 303 Humanities in Action

Jan 12, 2026

Join Architecture faculty Darren Taylor and Special Collections Preservationist Ruth Bryan for this special team-taught course in the applied humanities. The course will feature the Raymond Betts House as a case-study to explore how our community works to renovate, protect, and preserve our historic buildings. Registration opens in November--check MyUK for your registration window.

NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS The 2026 Gaines Lecture for Outstanding Research in the Humanities

Dec 1, 2025

The Gaines Center for the Humanities is now accepting nominations and self-nominations for the second annual Lecture for Outstanding Research in the Humanities. This opportunity recognizes advances in the humanities by early career scholars at the University of Kentucky, spotlighting groundbreaking work related to Gaines Center’s annual theme. The 2025-26 theme is “Origins.”

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN The 2026 Bingham Seminar HMN 300 Sustainable Futures Design Lab: Appalachia x France

Oct 31, 2025

The Gaines Center for the Humanities is excited to announce HMN 300: Sustainable Futures Design Lab, an extraordinary opportunity for students to combine academic inquiry with hands-on, real-world engagement in Spring 2026.

The Gaines 40th Alumni Reunion

Oct 25, 2025

The Gaines' 40th anniversary alumni reunion will take place October 23-25, 2025. Visit our reunion page for more information.

the 2025 bale boone symposium Ebony G. Patterson

Oct 23, 2025

The UK Gaines Center is thrilled to welcome former UK faculty and MacArthur Grant awardee,

NOW AVAILABLE Our Spring 2025 newsletter

Aug 31, 2025

The Spring 2025 newsletter includes the many (many!) things happening over here in the UK Gaines Center including reviews of our Breathitt Lecture and the 2025 Lafayette Seminar, a celebration of our graduating seniors, an alumni interview with Dominique Luster, and a reflection on the year from our new Director, Dr. Michelle Sizemore.

now available to stream 2025 Breathitt Lecture with Lucas Carlos de Lima

Jun 30, 2025

The 2025 Breathitt Lecture, Crystal Palaces: Designing a Better World Amidst Social Chaos presented by Lucas Carlos de Lima, is now available to stream on our YouTube channel. Click here to view the lecture.

Gaines Class of 2027 Gaines Center Selects Newest Cohort of Fellows

May 31, 2025

The University of Kentucky Gaines Center for the Humanities is thrilled to announce the selection of 12 undergraduates as the newest class of Gaines Fellows. These students will join the prestigious Gaines Fellowship Program in the Humanities for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Gaines Center featured in the Journal of Appalachian Studies

Dec 16, 2024

The Gaines Center for the Humanities' annual Lafayette Seminar featured in the latest edition of the Journal of Appalachian Studies. The article, authored by Associate Director Dr. Chelsea Brislin, revisited the two-day 2024 Lafayette Seminar, a series of public events on the topic of Monsters, Myths, and the Metaphysical. Check out the article in the Volume 30, Number 2 edition, available now at this link.

watch it on our YouTube channel Did You Miss "An Evening with Emily St. John Mandel"?