News

save the dates for these upcoming events 2026-2027 at the Gaines Center

Apr 30, 2027

Save the dates for these upcoming public and community events from the Gaines Center for the Humanities. All Gaines public events are free, but some may require advance registration. TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 Gaines kick-off to our Year of the Human Algorithm--a free screening and panel discussion of the 2013 movie "Her" starring Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson.

featuring Gaines Director Dr. Michelle Sizemore The American Revolution a film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt

Sep 2, 2026

Gaines Director Dr. Michelle Sizemore will participate in a scholarly discussion of the Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt film, "The American Revolution," on Wednesday September 2, 6.00pm, in the Worsham Theater at Gatton Student Center. Dr. Sizemore will be joined by Dr. Vanessa Holden (History, AAAS), Dr. Jeremy Popkin (History Emeritus), and Dr. Hugo Reyes-Centeno (Anthropology) in a conversation on the impact of the revolution across 250 years. This event is part of the Department of History 1776 Series and is free and open to the public.

AN AI LOVE STORY FROM SPIKE JONZE "Her" Gaines' Kickoff to the Year of the Human Algorithm

Sep 1, 2026

Join us on Tuesday September 1 as we kick off the Gaines Year of the Human Algorithm with a free screening of Spike Jonze' AI love story, "Her," starring Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson. Get there early for iced coffee, boba tea, and snacks (while stocks last) and stay for a chance to win a door prize! The movie screening begins at 6.00pm in the Worsham Theater, Gatton Student Center, followed by a faculty panel with Dr. Aria Halliday (GWS), Dr. Jordan Brower (English), Dr. Meg Wallace (Philosophy), Dr. Molly Blasing (MCLLC), and Dr.

faculty applications now invited The 2028 Bingham Seminar

Jul 31, 2026

Beginning July 31, the University of Kentucky Gaines Center for the Humanities will accept faculty proposals for the 2028 Mary C. Bingham Seminar, a unique opportunity to design and teach a humanities-focused course that pairs classroom learning with an immersive travel experience.

applications for 2026-2027 now open Gaines Mini-Grants

Jul 31, 2026

The Gaines Center's Mini-Grant program invites applications from any University of Kentucky college or department to apply for a limited number of awards annually. The humanities intersect with every discipline on the University of Kentucky campus, and, last year, Gaines' mini-grant program created partnerships with a number of campus departments highlighting just how rich those intersections can be.

Twelve New Gaines Fellows Named

by Ryan Girves

Apr 3, 2026

Twelve University of Kentucky students have been selected as the newest Gaines Fellows, representing nine colleges across campus and marking a record number of applications for the highly competitive program. The Gaines Fellowship in the Humanities is a distinctive, two-year program designed to enrich undergraduate education through interdisciplinary coursework, independent research and community engagement. Fellows are selected for their academic achievement, research potential, interest in public issues and commitment to exploring the human condition through the humanities.