'Big Sky Reads' stipends available for Montana book clubs

Press release

The Montana Center for the Book supports public book clubs in rural areas that engage in deeper, thought-provoking discussions about literature.

The Big Sky Reads program, now in its second year, provides $500 stipends to book clubs for trained discussion leaders, author visits, book shipping, marketing and other costs that enhance the humanities value of a program. Book clubs must be open to the public and meet in a public space or school.

All book clubs supported by Montana Center for the Book contribute reading lists, discussion questions, event times and more to the Facebook group. This is a resource to find new books, new participants, discussion questions and facilitators.

If the library, school, or other organization has an established book club they think qualifies, they can apply for this award any time. The program funds up to 10 clubs each year. There’s no deadline and the application is easy.

Humanities Montana is Montana’s state humanities council with a mission to serve communities through stories and conversation. It offers experiences that nurture imagination and ideas by speaking to Montanans’ diverse history, literature, and philosophy. Established in 1972, it is one of 56 councils across the nation that the National Endowment for the Humanities created in order to better infuse the humanities directly and effectively into public life. It produces, fund, create, and support humanities-based projects and programs, eye-opening cultural experiences and meaningful conversations.