Two humanities grants go to UW-Madison

Two UW–Madison projects, both dealing with African art and culture, have won grants from the Wisconsin Humanities Council.

“Prints and Pictures: An Exploration of Contemporary African Literature and Film” received $2,000. Under the auspices of the UW–Madison African Studies Program and the South Madison Branch Public Library, discussions will explore recent African books and films from such nations as Senegal, South Africa, Namibia, Tunisia and more. The free public forums will be held monthly at the Harambee Center, 2222 S. Park St., Madison, beginning Saturday, Sept. 18.

Educational programs surrounding the Elvehjem Museum of Art exhibition “Beads, Body and Soul: Art and Light in the Yoruba Universe” received close to $9,800 from the WHC. Beginning in January 2000, the Elvehjem will display examples of ceremonial objects including crowns, thrones, headdresses and more; and contemporary beaded jewelry and sculpture. The grant will help cover 10 lecturers, a film series, teacher workshops and curricular materials.

For more information about the “Prints and Pictures” series, contact Kim Rapp in the UW–Madison African Studies Program at (608) 262-4461. For information about the Elvehjem exhibition, contact the museum at (608) 263-2246. For information about WHC grants, call (608) 263-0706.