Promoting the Humanities throughout Campus and the Commonwealth

Our Year on Origins

Coinciding with the United States’ quarter millennial, the Gaines theme for 2025-2026 explores the meaning of origins through the prism of disciplinary viewpoints offered by the humanities, the arts, and the sciences. The Gaines Fellows seminar highlights the multiplicity of beginnings not only for Lexington and the United States but also for current technologies, social institutions, political movements, the planet, humans, and other species as the city and nation commemorate—and reckon with—our 250th anniversaries

Gaines Newsletter: Fall 2025

News and Upcoming Events

NOW AVAILABLE Our Fall 2026 Newsletter

Apr 30, 2026

The Fall 2026 newsletter includes the many (many!) things happening over here in the UK Gaines Center including our 40th anniversary alumni reunion celebrations, our 2025-2026 mini-grant recipients, and spotlights on current senior fellow Marc Vazsonyi and alumna Cat Wentworth.

now accepting applications Gaines Humanities Cooperatives

Apr 15, 2026

The Gaines Center for the Humanities is excited to introduce “Gaines Humanities Cooperatives”—an initiative that fosters new and emerging working groups on Humanities-focused research, pedagogy, advocacy, and public scholarship. Envisioned as a generator of community across departments and colleges, Gaines Cooperatives assist in the formation of these university networks by providing funding, space, and other institutional support for coalescing around common interests and goals.

THE 2026 GAINES LECTURE FOR OUTSTANDING RESEARCH IN THE HUMANITIES Digitizing Prison Dreams: Incarcerated Podcasters and Their Views on Freedom

Feb 18, 2026

Join us for the 2nd annual Gaines Lecture for Outstanding Research in the Humanities featuring Assistant Professor Dr. Brandon Erby (Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies). Dr.

SAVE THE DATE A Conversation with Frank X Walker and Amy Murrell Taylor

Feb 9, 2026

Please join us for a reading from and conversation about Professor Frank X. Walker’s (Creative Writing) and Professor Amy Taylor’s (History) award-winning books, Load in Nine Times and Embattled Freedom. The conversation will be moderated by Professor of History and Senior Adviser to the President, George C. Wright. Their conversation will take place in the John Jacob Niles Gallery, 3.30pm-4.30pm, on Monday February 9.

GAINES CENTER SPRING FORUM Public Education and Its Built Environment

Jan 22, 2026

Join us in Bingham Davis House on Thursday January 22, 4.00pm-5.00pm, for the Gaines Center Spring Forum featuring Eric Weber (College of Education) and Leen Katrib (College of Design).

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