VA Humanities Awards $222,911 to 17 organizations
Virginia—Virginia Humanities, the state’s humanities council, announced $222,911 in grants that have been awarded to 17 nonprofit organizations.
These projects each share an aspect of Virginia’s story in a unique and compelling way. “Through documentary film, foodways, oral history, music, and song these grants touch every corner of the commonwealth,” said Matthew Gibson, Virginia Humanities’ executive director. “We’re proud to support projects that engage Virginians and make our state’s stories, history, and culture come alive.”
Through documentary film, foodways, oral history, music, and song, these grants touch every corner of the commonwealth.
Matthew Gibson
To learn more about Virginia Humanities and upcoming grant opportunities, visit VirginiaHumanities.org. The next grant application deadline is January 31. Apply online at VirginiaHumanities.org/grants.
List of Awards
Homing Voices: An Inclusive Community Storytelling Project: Old Dominion University Research Foundation ($15000)
Norfolk, VA
Support for a community storytelling initiative focused on preserving migration narratives through workshops on poetry, family storytelling, and oral history.
Crafting Community: Artisan Storytelling & Heritage Training in Southwest Virginia: ‘Round the Mountain Artisan Network ($15000)
Abingdon, VA
Support for the collection of local artisan oral histories, the creation of a Storytelling Toolkit, and regional storytelling workshops that will serve to preserve and promote Southwest Virginia’s artisan heritage.
Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington, 1669-1865: Black Heritage Museum of Arlington Virginia ($12000)
Arlington , VA
Support for a project that will honor enslaved individuals in Arlington County, Virginia through 30 bronze plaques, descendant identification, genealogical research, walking tours, workshops, and a regional conference.
Expanding Education and Community Engagement at Woodson’s Mill: Friends of Woodson’s Mill ($10000)
Lovingston, VA
Support for expanded educational and community engagement at Woodson’s Mill in Lowesville, Virginia, including new K-12 educational curriculum and historical information panels.
Celebrating Simms at Rocktown High School: James Madison University ($7463)
Harrisonburg, VA
Support for new exhibition panels, lesson plans, increased website accessibility and an opening event as part of the “Celebrating Simms” project at Rocktown High School.
Bacon’s Rebellion at 350 Years: Perspectives on the Causes and Impacts of Nathaniel Bacon’s Uprising: Preservation Virginia ($13000)
Richmond, VA
Support for a 2026 symposium series that will explore the historical complexity of Nathaniel Bacon’s Uprising during its 350th anniversary.
Operation Desert Storm Documentary: Virginia War Memorial Foundation Inc. ($10000)
Richmond, VA
Support for the Operation Desert Storm Documentary which will preserve Gulf War veterans’ oral histories in partnership with Blue Ridge PBS.
Land Back: The Rappahannock: Headwaters Down ($15000)
Warsaw, VA
Support for a feature-length film that will document the Rappahannock Tribe’s 8,000+ year history, focusing on Chief Anne Richardson’s leadership and land reclamation efforts.
Rhythms of the Region: Building Connection Across our Food System through Music: Roanoke Foodshed Network ($14998)
Roanoke, VA
Support for the “Rhythms of the Region” project which will celebrate the agricultural heritage of Southwest Virginia through music production, multimedia storytelling, and community performance events.
From Mill Town to Music Town: The Story of Fries and Its Fiddlers’ Convention: Town of Fries, Virginia ($12000)
Fries, VA
Support for the “From Mill Town to Music Town” project, which will document the rich cultural heritage of Fries, Virginia by exploring the intersection of textile mill history and musical traditions.
Grown Roots: Oral Histories of Black Food and Farming in Charlottesville: Cultivate Charlottesville ($15000)
Charlottesville, VA
Support to document and preserve oral histories of Black farmers and food leaders in Charlottesville by creating a digital archive of community stories and training youth in oral history techniques.
The Harmonic Heritage Songbook & Recording Project: The Handmade Music School ($15000)
Floyd, VA
Support for the creation of a student-led multimedia songbook that will capture the human environment in and around Floyd, Virginia with a focus on diverse heritage, traditions, and history.
Stories of the 250th: Clarke County’s Connection to Virginia and America’s Journey: Clarke County Historical Association ($13450)
Berryville, VA
Support for a yearlong series of public humanities programs commemorating both Virginia’s 250th anniversary and the nation’s semiquincentennial in Clarke County, Virginia.
The Forest Botanicals Region Living Monument: Honoring Forest-Based Traditions in Southwest Virginia: City of Norton ($15,000)
Norton, VA
Support for an expansion of educational and outreach programming at the Forest Botanicals Region Living Monument, an interactive initiative in Southwest Virginia focused on honoring forest-based traditions.
Indie short Film Festival: Indie short Film Festival ($10000)
Charlottesville, VA
Support for increased humanities programming at the annual Indie short Film Festival event in Charlottesville, VA from March 20-22, 2026.
Life, Liberty, & Loudoun! Revolutionary Stories: Loudoun Museum ($15000)
Leesburg, VA
Support for the “Life, Liberty, & Loudoun! Revolutionary Stories” project which aims to explore diverse perspectives of the American Revolutionary era in Loudoun County.
Virginia Civil Rights History Digital Library: Hampden-Sydney College ($15000)
Hampden-Sydney, VA Support for the Virginia Civil Rights History Digital Library, a comprehensive digital platform preserving Prince Edward County’s civil rights history.
Norfolk, VA
Support for a community storytelling initiative focused on preserving migration narratives through workshops on poetry, family storytelling, and oral history.
Crafting Community: Artisan Storytelling & Heritage Training in Southwest Virginia: ‘Round the Mountain Artisan Network ($15000)
Abingdon, VA
Support for the collection of local artisan oral histories, the creation of a Storytelling Toolkit, and regional storytelling workshops that will serve to preserve and promote Southwest Virginia’s artisan heritage.
Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington, 1669-1865: Black Heritage Museum of Arlington Virginia ($12000)
Arlington , VA
Support for a project that will honor enslaved individuals in Arlington County, Virginia through 30 bronze plaques, descendant identification, genealogical research, walking tours, workshops, and a regional conference.
Expanding Education and Community Engagement at Woodson’s Mill: Friends of Woodson’s Mill ($10000)
Lovingston, VA
Support for expanded educational and community engagement at Woodson’s Mill in Lowesville, Virginia, including new K-12 educational curriculum and historical information panels.
Celebrating Simms at Rocktown High School: James Madison University ($7463)
Harrisonburg, VA
Support for new exhibition panels, lesson plans, increased website accessibility and an opening event as part of the “Celebrating Simms” project at Rocktown High School.
Bacon’s Rebellion at 350 Years: Perspectives on the Causes and Impacts of Nathaniel Bacon’s Uprising: Preservation Virginia ($13000)
Richmond, VA
Support for a 2026 symposium series that will explore the historical complexity of Nathaniel Bacon’s Uprising during its 350th anniversary.
Operation Desert Storm Documentary: Virginia War Memorial Foundation Inc. ($10000)
Richmond, VA
Support for the Operation Desert Storm Documentary which will preserve Gulf War veterans’ oral histories in partnership with Blue Ridge PBS.
Land Back: The Rappahannock: Headwaters Down ($15000)
Warsaw, VA
Support for a feature-length film that will document the Rappahannock Tribe’s 8,000+ year history, focusing on Chief Anne Richardson’s leadership and land reclamation efforts.
Rhythms of the Region: Building Connection Across our Food System through Music: Roanoke Foodshed Network ($14998)
Roanoke, VA
Support for the “Rhythms of the Region” project which will celebrate the agricultural heritage of Southwest Virginia through music production, multimedia storytelling, and community performance events.
From Mill Town to Music Town: The Story of Fries and Its Fiddlers’ Convention: Town of Fries, Virginia ($12000)
Fries, VA
Support for the “From Mill Town to Music Town” project, which will document the rich cultural heritage of Fries, Virginia by exploring the intersection of textile mill history and musical traditions.
Grown Roots: Oral Histories of Black Food and Farming in Charlottesville: Cultivate Charlottesville ($15000)
Charlottesville, VA
Support to document and preserve oral histories of Black farmers and food leaders in Charlottesville by creating a digital archive of community stories and training youth in oral history techniques.
The Harmonic Heritage Songbook & Recording Project: The Handmade Music School ($15000)
Floyd, VA
Support for the creation of a student-led multimedia songbook that will capture the human environment in and around Floyd, Virginia with a focus on diverse heritage, traditions, and history.
Stories of the 250th: Clarke County’s Connection to Virginia and America’s Journey: Clarke County Historical Association ($13450)
Berryville, VA
Support for a yearlong series of public humanities programs commemorating both Virginia’s 250th anniversary and the nation’s semiquincentennial in Clarke County, Virginia.
The Forest Botanicals Region Living Monument: Honoring Forest-Based Traditions in Southwest Virginia: City of Norton ($15,000)
Norton, VA
Support for an expansion of educational and outreach programming at the Forest Botanicals Region Living Monument, an interactive initiative in Southwest Virginia focused on honoring forest-based traditions.
Indie short Film Festival: Indie short Film Festival ($10000)
Charlottesville, VA
Support for increased humanities programming at the annual Indie short Film Festival event in Charlottesville, VA from March 20-22, 2026.
Life, Liberty, & Loudoun! Revolutionary Stories: Loudoun Museum ($15000)
Leesburg, VA
Support for the “Life, Liberty, & Loudoun! Revolutionary Stories” project which aims to explore diverse perspectives of the American Revolutionary era in Loudoun County.
Virginia Civil Rights History Digital Library: Hampden-Sydney College ($15000)
Hampden-Sydney, VA Support for the Virginia Civil Rights History Digital Library, a comprehensive digital platform preserving Prince Edward County’s civil rights history.
About Virginia Humanities
Virginia Humanities is the state humanities council. We aim to tell the stories of all Virginians—or, better yet, find ways for people to tell their own stories. We want Virginians to connect with their history and culture and, in doing that, we hope we will all better understand each other. Virginia Humanities is headquartered in Charlottesville at the University of Virginia, but our work covers the Commonwealth. Founded in 1974, we are one of fifty-six humanities councils created by Congress with money and support from the National Endowment for the Humanities to make the humanities available to all Americans. To learn more visit VirginiaHumanities.org.
