The South Dakota Humanities Council (SDHC), founded in 1972 in response to an act of Congress, is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit and the only cultural organization in the state whose sole mission is to deliver humanities programming to the people of South Dakota. Our vision is to lead statewide advocacy for the humanities, working with other partners to foster literary and civic engagement. This programming vision forms the core mission. The South Dakota Humanities Council celebrates literature, promotes civil conversation, and tells the stories that define our state. We do this by supporting and promoting public programming in the humanities; providing grant funding for community programs and research and discussion projects; carrying out the mission of the South Dakota Center for the Book (established by the Library of Congress in 2002) through reading and literacy programs and the annual Festival of Books.