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In March, Humanities Texas, the Smithsonian Rural Initiative, and Texas Rural Funders hosted Preserving Rural Stories: Resources and Grants for Historical and Cultural Organizations in the Texas Panhandle in Amarillo. The conference, presented in partnership with the Amarillo Area Foundation, the Texas Historical Commission, and the Texas Historical Foundation, brought together organizations from across the Panhandle and West Texas to learn about funding opportunities and resources to support their service to the state's rural communities.

Preserving Rural Stories welcomed fifty-three participants representing more than forty Texas organizations. Attendees heard from Andy Mink, founding director of the Smithsonian Rural Initiative, and other Smithsonian presenters, all of whom highlighted the institution's work nationwide, including initiatives connected to America250 and community-based cultural programming. They encouraged conference attendees to explore opportunities for collaboration and to take advantage of Smithsonian resources.

Representatives from Texas Rural Funders, the Texas Historical Commission, and the Texas Historical Foundation also shared information about funding opportunities and support available to organizations serving the state’s rural communities. Participants gained practical insights into organizational development, successful preservation projects, and strategies for securing grants. Afternoon breakout sessions allowed attendees to engage more directly with presenters and explore key areas of their work. Sessions focused on developing community-centered programs, sharing local stories, preserving local history, and building organizational capacity.

The program concluded with remarks from Humanities Texas Director of Grants Marco Buentello, who encouraged attendees to apply for grants to support their historical and cultural work.

The conference earned high praise from attendees. Cooper Alexander of the Red River Valley Museum said, "The resources that were discussed and the connections I was able to make will be such a wonderful asset for our little museum." Allison Kendrick, who works directly with many of the organizations in attendance through the Texas Plains Trail Region, added, "The speakers were truly inspiring, and I appreciated learning more about the many funding opportunities available to help sustain the region's heritage and cultural initiatives for future generations."

Preserving Rural Stories is part of an ongoing collaboration between Humanities Texas and the Smithsonian to strengthen historical and cultural organizations in the state’s rural communities. In recent years, Humanities Texas has worked closely with rural museums, libraries, and cultural organizations to better understand and support their needs. These efforts culminated in the launch of our rural grants program in 2025. At the same time, Andy Mink has worked extensively with rural-serving institutions across Texas to expand access to Smithsonian resources, exhibitions, and programming. Together, Humanities Texas and the Smithsonian have supported organizations through grants, workshops, exhibitions, and other initiatives. We look forward to continuing and expanding this partnership.

Organizations interested in learning more about Humanities Texas grants, hosting a Humanities Texas exhibition, or celebrating America250 through local public programs are encouraged to visit the Grants section of our website or contact our grants staff at grants@humanitiestexas.org.