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Speakers Bureau Welcome

Last Updated 2/13/2012 3:56:28 PM

Speakers Bureau

Talks and Living History Programs for Your Town

The Vermont Humanities Council Speakers Bureau brings humanities lectures and presentations to communities across the state. Every year our speakers make more than 150 appearances at local libraries, historical societies, senior centers, and other places in the community.

The Speakers Bureau offers nonprofit organizations an easy, inexpensive way to host quality lectures and living history presentations in Vermont communities.

The bureau offers more than eighty-five programs. We offer two types of programs: History Alive! presentations and lectures. All programs afford opportunity for discussion.

Lectures present scholarship on diverse humanities topics. History Alive! programs bring historical characters to life through well-researched and well-acted portrayals.

Whether you want to learn about contemporary public issues, shake hands with John Quincy Adams, or explore the history of the American flag, the Speakers Bureau lets you bring an informative and thought-provoking program to your community.

Program Guidelines

VHC welcomes applications from any nonprofit organization in Vermont. Nonprofit groups may book two programs per year. Proof of nonprofit status is not required. Businesses and other for-profit organizations may apply, but their programs will not be subsidized by VHC.

The VHC underwrites Speakers Bureau programs at the rate of $350 for History Alive! presentations and $250 for lectures. Booking fee: The booking fee has recently changed, effective immediately. The fee is now $75 for each booking; organizations may host no more than two programs per calendar year. The speaker may request or require an additional contribution from the host, such as mileage reimbursement or other expenses.

The catalogue includes all the information and materials needed to apply for VHC Speakers Bureau programs. Programs must be free and open to the public (except those held in correctional facilities) and accessible to those with disabilities (as described in Frequently Asked Questions).

VHC cannot support guest lecturers in academic classes through this program. Although children and students enjoy most Speakers Bureau programs, the presentations are designed for adult audiences. The host organization must comply with federal and state laws against discrimination on grounds of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, disability, gender, or sexual orientation.

Photos (click on photo to view larger): Ted Zalewski as Teddy Roosevelt, Georgia O'Keeffe, detail of the Saxtons River theater curtain by Carolyn L. Bates, carolynbates.com, Barre Granite Workers, courtesy Barre Granite Museum.

Catalogue Details

Last Updated 2/17/2012 3:50:26 PM

Speakers Bureau Catalogue

* NEW SPEAKERS AND TALKS *

We've added new speakers and talks since the 2010 edition of the catalogue. The following speakers and talks are new!

• Art historian Bob Manning, “Frida Kahlo and the Mexican
Muralists” (page 16)

• Film expert Rick Winston, “Alfred Hitchcock and the Art
of Suspense” (page 16)

• UVM professor Jack Gierzynski, “Democratic Culture
and Election Reform” (page 18)

• Dr. Jack Mayer, “Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project”
(page 23)

• Writer and VPR commentator Deborah Luskin,
“1964: A Watershed Year in Vermont’s Political
(and Cultural) History” (page 29)

The Speakers Bureau catalogue is available as a PDF. If you cannot download a file this large, contact VHC and we will mail one to you.

Speakers Bureau Catalogue — PDF (1,058 KB).
Speakers Bureau Booking Form — Fillable PDF.

Instructions: 1.) Save the PDF form to your computer. 2.) Open the saved file. 3.) Type directly in the fields. 4.) Re-save the PDF form. 5.) E-mail the PDF as an attachment (prefered) or print the form to mail or fax.

VHC is able to accommodate a certain number of Speakers Bureau requests each month. Before submitting the booking form, read through the process for booking a speaker in the catalogue. August, September and October are particularly popular months. For the greatest chance of having your program accepted, contact the speaker as early as possible and submit a request form as soon as you have set a date.

To receive a copy of the catalogue or booking form via e-mail or mail, contact Angelica Caterino at acaterino@vermonthumanities.org at 802.262.2626 x 304.