The Humanitarium: Center for Culture & Diversity is a not-for-profit organization, incorporated in 1997, dedicated to understanding and celebrating human diversity through education and the arts in the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky and beyond.

The Humanitarium was created to meet the unmet need of diversity awareness. The founding Board members were inspired by the belief that through the use of art forms and education, one can truly stretch minds – young and old – to understand people whose appearance, belief systems and cultures are different than our own. The Humanitarium strongly believes in collaboration with other community organizations and educational institutions.

Vision Statement: The Humanitarium: Center for Culture & Diversity is dedicated to understanding and celebrating human diversity through education and the arts. 

Humanitarium’s Logo: In the spring of 2000 The Humanitarium unveiled its official logo. Vickie VanHurley, University of Kentucky Assistant Professor in graphic design and head of the UK graphic design program at the time, created the new logo. 

The logo brings together two puzzle pieces to form a capital “H”. “The H puzzle”, explained Vickie, “Includes two pieces working together cohesively – ftting together beautifully.” She based the design on a jigsaw puzzle. The different shapes, colors, and sizes mirror the diversity of human communities.

The process has several stages: Vickie took the name and thought about what it stood for. She used the word, “Humanitarium” and its roots, as seeds for images, did thumbnail sketches to see how the images and type might work together. She thought the design needed to be simple. She tried to work with what the organization is all about and transform this into a visual communication.

Officers and Board Members

We are a group of people who first came together at the 1995 Lexington Citizen Summit. Many others have joined us since 1995. We are diverse in many ways, including race, culture, gender, age, income levels and belief systems.

Officers

Gloria Rie, President

Larry Johnson, Vice President

Mary Crone, Secretary

Luis Wayne Sanchez, Treasurer

Rachel Belin, Education Director

Members

Tracy Dennis

Marjorie Guyon