Virginia—Today, Virginia Humanities—Virginia’s state humanities council—announced $211,896.76 in grants and sponsorships that have been awarded to 19 nonprofit organizations across Virginia.
These grants and sponsorships will support public humanities efforts throughout the Commonwealth. “As we celebrate 50 years of amplifying voices and strengthening the cultural fabric of our Commonwealth, this new round of grants reaffirms our commitment to fostering understanding, preserving stories, and enriching communities through the humanities,” says Adam Courville, director of Grants and Fellowships at Virginia Humanities.
Virginia Humanities currently has the following funding opportunities available to individuals and organizations.
For Organizations:
- Virginia Humanities at WHRO (Hampton Roads) – Due 4/30
- Virginia Humanities at UVA Wise (Southwest Virginia) – Due 4/30
- Rapid Grants – Application opens 4/1; Due 4/30
For Individuals:
- Public Humanities Fellows – Due 3/31
- Rosel Schewel Fellowship – Due 5/2
- Virginia Folklife Apprenticeships – Due 5/5
For details on these and other funding opportunities, please visit VirginiaHumanities.org.
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The following grants and sponsorships were awarded between January 1 – March 20, 2025.
Rapid Grants
Montañitas Re-Imagined Website and Archive: Lua Project ($5000)
Charlottesville, Virginia
Support for the final stage of an oral history project collecting stories of Latino/a participants who have settled in the Shenandoah Valley, highlighting an emerging Appalachiano culture in Appalachian Virginia.
Monacan Indian Nation Powwow: Monacan Nation Cultural Foundation ($5000)
Madison Heights, Virginia
Support for expanded programming at the 32nd Annual Powwow, held on May 31-June 1, 2025.
Heritage Day Festival: Interpretation and Tradition: Montgomery Museum of Art & History ($4991)
Christiansburg, Virginia
Support for a series of lectures and audience participation events by Appalachian musicians and luthiers, demonstrating the history and significance of early Appalachian instruments.
Maciilan Paih (Remember Who Was Once There): Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia ($4890)
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Support for the construction and implementation of four markers commemorating the Patawomeck Tribe as part of a broader project, Maciilan Paih, which aims to honor the history of Virginia’s Algonquian-speaking tribes.
The History From the Old Brick Church Self-Guided Tour: St. Luke’s Historic Church & Museum ($1721)
Smithfield, Virginia
Support for the second phase of a self-guided tour which will expand its content to include Indigenous, African, and European histories related to 17th-century Virginia.
Virginia Soundscapes: Staunton Music Festival ($4000)
Staunton, Virginia
Support for a series of public events that will bring together eight living Virginia composers in conversation to increase public awareness of the creative work being done in Virginia today.
Regular Grants
Utilizing Humanities Scholars in the Exhibit Development of An American Journey: American Frontier Culture Foundation ($10000)
Staunton, Virginia
Support for a new exhibit, American Journeys, that will explore the lived experiences, cultural contributions, and interwoven histories of Indigenous, European, and African American people.
Displaced from the Birthplace of America: College of William & Mary ($20000)
Williamsburg, Virginia
Support for a documentary film, Displaced from the Birthplace of America, which will examine the displacement of Black communities during the creation of commemorative landscapes at Colonial Williamsburg.
The John Mitchell, Jr. Project: Firehouse Theatre Project, Inc ($20000)
Richmond, Virginia
Support for a new play that will share the story and legacy of John Mitchell, Jr. and the Richmond Planet newspaper.
Living Legacies: African American History in the Fredericksburg Area: Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center ($20000)
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Support for a new exhibition, Living Legacies: African American History in the Fredericksburg Area, highlighting the role African Americans have played in shaping the nation over 250 years.
Hampton Storytelling Year-Round Program: Hampton Storytelling ($20000)
Hampton, Virginia
Support for a variety of storytelling programs including Storytelling Series, ten Story Swaps, two Storytelling Academies, and the third annual Everybody’s Got a Story festival.
Hidden in Plain Sight: Black Workers in Augusta County & Staunton, 1840-1940: Mary Baldwin College for Women ($18868.26)
Staunton, Virginia
Support for a new exhibition, Hidden in Plain Sight: Black Workers in Staunton/Augusta County, VA, 1840-1940, which will expand previous work to additional local Black neighborhoods including Sandy Hollow, Gospel Hill, and Uniontown.
Laying the Leavy & Keeping the Poor: Lynnhaven & Elizabeth City Parish Records, 1723-1831: The Episcopal Project ($10196)
Richmond, Virginia
Support for the digitization of the earliest extant Vestry Books of two parishes in Virginia’s Tidewater: Lynnhaven Parish and Elizabeth City Parish.
Local Middlesex County History Curriculum Development of Educational Materials and Display: The Middlesex County Museum & Historical Society ($13230.50)
Saluda, Virginia
Support for the development of a curriculum of educational materials focused on local Middlesex County history that meet Virginia State SOL guidelines.
Youth Education, Events, and Fellowship Program: The Muse Writers Center ($20000)
Norfolk, Virginia
Support for an expansion of the organization’s annual youth education programs, young writer events, and fellowship program in 2025.
Youth Literary Arts Programming: The Podium Foundation ($10000)
Richmond, Virginia
Support for an expansion of the organization’s weekly youth literary arts programming including the Teen Scene, Power of the Pen, Prep Your Next Step, and Teen Professional Conference.
Virginia Children’s Book Festival: Promoting Literacy and Storytelling Across Virginia: Virginia Children’s Book Festival ($20000)
Keysville, Virginia
Support for the Virginia Children’s Book Festival, a three-day celebration of books, storytelling, and literacy that delivers programming to children and youth across Virginia.
Sponsorships
Salve Virgen del Socavon: Fundacion Socio Cultural Diablada Boliviana ($2000)
Fairfax, Virginia
Support for a free event showcasing Bolivian culture through a variety of dance performances.
Virginia Silk Road Fair: Ana Care and Education Uyghur Programs ($2000)
Chantilly, Virginia
Support for a free Turkic Festival to celebrate and unite Uyghur, Uzbek, and other Turkic cultures in Fairfax.
