WE'RE BACK! LIVE CLAASES RESUME TUESDAY JANUARY 12, 2022!
Bloomington Humanities Center
Bloomington Humanities Center
WE'RE BACK!
Classes were suspended in 2023 due to our main instructor's ill health. We're happy to say Mark Acres resumed teaching in February 2024! We now offer single session classes live at Bell Trace in Bloomington from 7 to 9 pm on Tuesday evenings. We also share our classes on Zoom. The cost is $20 per class. You may pay by cash or check in person or by Venmo to @Mark-Acres-2 or PayPal to markacres1812@gmail.com.
Who We Are
We are people like you who share a passion for reading, learning and discussion in the areas of history, literature, philosophy, and film.
Mark Acres, founder, instructor and discussion guide at Bloomington Humanities Center, developed a life-long love of learning as a student of philosophy, literature, history and anthropology at Cornell University. Since graduation from Cornell, Mark has been an award winning journalist, lay pastor, instructor for Northwood Institute and Oakland City College, an award winning game designer, a published historian and author of more than 80 game products and 14 books.
Bernie Audette
Memorial Scholarship
Bloomington Humanities Center, offering affordable, non-credit adult education classes in the humanities, announces the creation of the Bernard Audette Memorial Scholarship, allowing interested persons of limited means to attend Bloomington Humanities Center courses at no charge.
Bernard Audette, recently of Stinesville, was a devoted student of philosophy, religion, art, music, literature and drama. During his lifetime, he performed in secret many deeds of philanthropy.
“Bloomington Humanities Center is proud to make this scholarship available in memory of Bernard Audette,” said Mark Acres. BHC founder.
There are no particular income requirements for the scholarship. The only requirements are a desire to learn and an inability to pay for the cost of course offerings. Interested persons should visit the website and then contact Bloomington Humanities Center through the Contact link. All inquiries will kept confidential.
What We Do
The Bloomington Humanities Center provides affordable, high quality adult education classes in History, Literature, Art, Film, Music, Philosophy, and Religious Studies . We believe that ongoing exploration of the Humanities is essential to the enhancement of human life in an increasingly technological and commercial culture.
Our courses and discussion groups enable students from any educational background to gain a solid foundation of knowledge about a specific subject, preparing them for further reading or research in the area.
There are no pre-requisites save a desire to learn and share. Our courses do not provide college credit.
MAY CLASSES FOR
BLOOMINGTON HUMANITIES CENTER
May 7: The Tower of London Part 2: We continue our look at the historic Tower of London with the Queen’s House, the Beauchamp Tower, the scaffold site, the chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula, the Menagerie, the Waterloo Barracks, the Crown Jewels, and damage in World War II.
May 14: SHILOH - Overview of a Battle: A condensed look at “bloody” Shiloh, the Civil War battle on April 6-7 that stunned both North and South.
May 23: The Iroquois Theatre Fire – Jamie Acres presents a study of the great Iroquois Theatre fire of December 30, 1903, in Chicago. The fire resulted in 602 deaths and 250 non-fatal injuries.
May 28: The Thin Man: Discussion of the classic William Powell/Myrna Loy 1934 film classic that inspired five sequels.
TESTIMONIALS
"Several years ago I enrolled in Mark Acres' course on the Battle of Gettysburg. From the first class session I was hooked! Mark has a phenomenal way of presenting historical events and topics in a way that truly brings history to life and provides a dynamic and compelling framework for thoughtful exploration. Mark's passion and knowledge base for each subject he teaches, his extraordinary ability to make complex events easily accessible, and his inexhaustible enthusiasm for teaching, provide for a most exhilarating class experience! Since that first Gettysburg course, I have signed up for virtually every new class Mark has offered.
"The Bloomington Humanities Center is a unique opportunity to participate in lively and informal course offerings in a relaxed setting. Enrolling in Mark Acres' courses has become my self-indulgence for learning while having a blast! It's my weekly treat of choice!
- Jan Grant, Bloomington business professional
"Mark Acres is the best kind of history teacher. He is incredibly engaging and enthusiastic, knows the material inside and out, and provides fascinating contemporary and historical perspectives. I've thoroughly enjoyed and benefited from every class I've taken from Mark, and always look forward to the next one."
-John Hoerr, IU IT professional