The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), has once again been caught spending taxpayer dollars on bizarre and wasteful things. The agency is reportedly spending $300,000 on screenings of Netflix TV series Stranger Things, a beer garden, and Frankenstein themed Halloween apparel.
The NEH gave a grant to Indiana Humanities, to host a series of events to celebrate the 19th century novel by Mary Shelley. The series of events include “Frankenfest” in Indianapolis, a day-long event for people to drink beer and read Frankenstein.
“On Sept. 30, we’re kicking everything off with Frankenfest at the Indiana Medical History Museum,” Indiana Humanities made the announcement on its website. “Some of the highlights include an all-day read-a-thon in the Old Pathology Building’s operating theater, an onsite Franks-N-Steins beer garden featuring Central State Brewing beers and King David Dogs, a pop-up exhibit of rare anatomical books from the Ruth Lilly Medical Library at the IU School of Medicine; hands-on artmaking activities and Frankengames, and many other surprises. You don’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind event!”
According to the organizers, the first 100 people to attend the event will also receive a free beer mug that will reportedly be Frankenstein themed. The NEH claimed that no taxpayer dollars were be used to purchase alcoholic beverages.
A part of the $300,000 fund will also be spent on a weekend retreat next year, for book lovers and Frankenstein experts, who will be able to enjoy meals “inspired by the book.”
In order to promote the event and reading culture, Indiana Humanities is also contributing up to $1000 to libraries that will host community events and “all kinds of Frankenstein swag.”
Next fall, a “teen-focused Indiana Sci-Fi & Horror Writers Festival” will show the popular Netflix TV series Stranger Things.
“Can you tell we’re excited?” Indiana Humanities said. “We are incredibly grateful for the NEH support that will allow us to offer so many free and low-cost ways for Hoosiers from all walks of life to explore this great book and talk about how science affects our lives.”
The $300,000 fund was received earlier this month as part of the National Endowment for the Humanities first round of grants under the new administration. Other projects that are expected to receive funding or have already received grants include $30,000 to talk about “Oral Histories of Idaho’s LGBTQ community” and an additional $300,000 to discuss the water crisis in Flint, Michigan.
