We award grants to support public humanities projects that engage Virginians with our history, literature, culture, and contemporary issues. Through a range of funding opportunities, we enable cultural nonprofits across the Commonwealth to develop and deliver community-centered programs that expand access to the humanities and foster dialogue and understanding.
Our grants support projects of varying scope and timeline, from sustained initiatives to smaller, time-sensitive efforts, as well as regionally focused programs that address the unique histories and communities of Virginia.
Major Grants
- Awards range from $5,000 to $15,000
- Supports substantial, planned public humanities projects with broad reach and long-term impact
- Period of performance up to 18 months from the decision date
- Letter of Intent (LOI) is required
Opportunity Grants
- Awards up to $5,000
- Supports time-sensitive or focused initiatives that require rigor but may not align with the scale or timing of the Major Grant cycle
- Period of performance is 12 months from the decision date
- Letter of Intent (LOI) is not required
Community Action Grants
- Awards up to $1,500
- Supports clearly defined public humanities activities embedded in festivals, public events, and community gatherings
- Rolling application intake, with bi-monthly decision cycles
- Letter of Intent (LOI) is not required
Virginia Humanities at WHRO Grants
- Regional grants program serving Hampton Roads
- Awards up to $6,000
- Administered in partnership with WHRO Public Media
Virginia Humanities at UVA Wise Grants
- Regional grants program serving Southwest Virginia
- Awards up to $5,000
- Administered in partnership with UVA Wise
Other Funding Opportunities
Fellowships
Our fellowships support writers, community scholars, educators, and university faculty in researching and sharing stories about Virginia’s history and culture. We currently offer four fellowship opportunities: Public Humanities Fellowships; Virginia HBCU Scholars Fellowships; K–12 Educator Fellowships; and Rosel Schewel Fellowships.
Folklife Apprenticeships
Our Folklife Apprenticeship Program supports the preservation and continuation of traditional cultural knowledge by providing funding for an artist who is considered a master of a tradition to train an apprentice of their choosing. We welcome apprenticeships across a wide range of traditions, including music, dance, crafts, community storytelling, cultural reclamation, traditional healing, agriculture, foodways, and specialty trades.
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Grants News & Events
EventLife, Liberty, Loudoun! Revolutionary Stories
This exhibit explores the different perspectives of those residing in Loudoun County during the time of the American Revolution and how they experienced the era in varied and sometimes conflicting …
EventInthrive Film Festival-Season Kick Off Celebration
Witness the uncensored stories of incarceration survivors who refuse to be defined by their past. Forget the stereotypes. Prepare to see films from incarceration survivoring storytellers and artists who have …
EventVirginia Queer Film Festival
The Virginia Queer Film Festival takes place on October 2-4 at the University Theater at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. The Virginia Queer Film Festival provides access to films …
Event10th Annual Pocahontas Reframed Film Festival
Pocahontas Reframed Film Festival celebrates its tenth annual festival, bringing Indigenous films, music and culture to Virginia. Including a Family Day Pow Wow, Eastern Indian Marketplace, and a Filmmakers Panel …
EventLiving History on the Lawn at Ker Place
The weekend of events will begin as Patrick Henry will reenact his famous ‘Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death’ speech of March 23, 1775 on the front steps of …
