Congratulations to Kylie Message, Frank Bongiorno and Robert Wellington on the publication of their special issue on the theme of ‘Public Humanities of the Future: Museums, Archives, Universities and Beyond’ for the newly revamped Humanities Research journal. This special issue is intended as a considered and comprehensive ‘intervention in continuing debates about the place of the humanities in contemporary societies’. In addition to a thematic article from the editors, the issue includes contributions from Mike Jones, Daniel Casey and Joshua Black, Eleanor Foster and others. The first issue of Humanities Research in more than a decade, this collection explores several historic moments, sites and problems, and celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the Humanities Research Centre at the ANU. Congratulations to the editors and authors!