Speakers Bureau

About the Speakers Bureau program

The Road Scholars Speakers Bureau program offers humanities-based programming to nonprofit organizations throughout Arizona. These humanities-based programs are designed to share and explore the ideas that shape our human experience, and foster civil discussions among diverse audiences. AHC provides the humanities scholars, who travel to communities throughout the state, and pays them directly. Host organizations select the presentations, schedule the speakers, provide the venue, and generate an audience.

Road Scholars
Road Scholars programs are designed to foster lively, humanities-based discussions and civil dialogue among diverse audiences throughout Arizona. Road Scholars will travel across the state to give programs and facilitate discussions with audiences in non-profit organizations.

History Alive!
History Alive! programs host scholars assuming the roles of a significant figures from the past. Scholars present as their historical characters, then field questions from the character's perspective. They end by "stepping out" of character and taking questions as themselves, providing scholarly context and insight.

Speakers in the Schools
The Speakers in the Schools program is designed to provide humanities lessons and discussions relevant to Arizona K-12 curricula. Scholars will work directly with teachers prior to the program in order to tailor the program to a specific grade level, meeting Arizona educational standards.

How do I apply for a Speaker

Step 1: Review the list of speakers and presentations to choose which one(s) you would like to host. You can find more detailed information about speakers and their talks, and investigate the index of Theme suggestions.

Step 2: Call Whitney Klotz at 602/257-0335 x23 or e-mail wklotz@azhumanities.org. If your organization is eligible and funding is available, you will be given contact information for the speaker. Call the speaker to arrange his or her participation, and be sure to ask the speaker about audio/visual equipment needs.

Step 3: Once you confirm with the speaker, apply for the program using the online application form. Submit the form to AHC at least six weeks before the presentation is to take place. Please be sure to complete all sections, including your required contribution, and don't hesitate to call AHC if you have questions.

Step 4: Your application will be processed, and a program packet will be mailed to you. The packet includes information to help publicize, administer, and evaluate the program. Call AHC if you do not receive a packet within two weeks of submitting your application.

Step 5: After your program/s are completed, submit your Project Director's Final Report online.

Is my organization eligible to apply for the Speakers Bureau?

Eligible applicants are organizations constituted for nonprofit purposes, specifically public libraries, museums, historical sites, historical and archaeological societies, parks, tribal entities, elementary, middle, and high schools (Speakers in the Schools only), community colleges, community centers and agencies (if open to all people all the time), and other organizations at AHC's discretion. If your organization is not eligible for an AHC-funded speaker program, AHC can provide contact information so that you can directly book and pay for a speaker. Closed membership organizations are not eligible for AHC-funded speaker programs.

What are the program requirements?

The program should be scheduled for 60 minutes, and include at least an introduction, 40-minute talk, and 15 minutes for questions.
The host organization is responsible for generating publicity for the program, securing an audience of at least 30 people, and acknowledging AHC in all promotional and printed materials. Publicity must be generated beyond the organization's membership, and the meeting space must comfortably accommodate at least 30 people.
The program must be open to the public, with no pre-registration. Programs may not be for closed audiences such as classrooms, membership meetings, docent trainings, or conference sessions that are not free and open to the public. Participants may not be required to pay a fee or buy a meal to attend.
The host organization should make the speaker welcome in the community and introduce him or her at the start of the presentation, and verbally acknowledge AHC at that time as well.

How often may my organization apply? Is there a fee?

Effective December 1, 2011, there is a $100 administrative fee for each Road Scholar and History Alive! speaker arranged through AHC. There is no fee for Speakers in the Schools programs. There is no limit to the number of times your organization may request speakers in a given year, although the $100 administrative fee applies to each presentation.

Hints on completing Your Required Contribution:

"Staff and Volunteer Time" is the time spent organizing, publicizing, hosting, and evaluating the program. Use a staff member's hourly rate or $15 per hour for volunteers, and multiply the hourly rate by the number of hours spent on the project.
"Services and Materials" includes the market value of the space and equipment used for the presentations, as well as supplies, postage, phone, photocopying, and refreshments.
"Fee Paid to AHC" is the $100 non-refundable fee paid for each speaker requested.

How do I become a Speaker?

The Arizona Humanities Council accepts applications for its Speakers Bureau program every two years. The next application cycle will begin in Summer 2013. Please submit your information to AHC's Humanities Advisors Database to receive an application to be on the next Speakers' Bureau roster.

Questions?

For more information, call or e-mail Whitney Klotz at 602/257-0335 x23 or wklotz@azhumanities.org.