AUGUSTA, Maine (AP)   The National Endowment for the Humanities is going to help a pair of Maine cultural institutions engage more with the public about the state’s bicentennial.

Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree says the funding is going to the Maine Humanities Council and the University of Maine, Augusta. Both are slated to receive $100,000 for public discussion programs.

Pingree says the grants will help “lift up diverse voices and increase access to cultural programming for all Mainers.”

The Maine Humanities Council plans to use its funding to support programming for Maine’s bicentennial celebration next year. UMA’s funds will help with a 15-part speaker series called “Maine’s Midcentury Moment” that will also be a part of the university’s bicentennial programming.