Virginia Humanities (VH), formerly the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, is a humanities council whose stated mission is to develop the civic, cultural, and intellectual life of the

Commonwealth of Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States, Southeastern regions of the United States, between the East Coast of the United Stat ...

by creating learning opportunities for all Virginians. VH aims to bring the

humanities Humanities are academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture. In the Renaissance, the term contrasted with divinity and referred to what is now called classics, the main area of secular study in universities at the t ...

fully into Virginia's public life, assisting individuals and communities in their efforts to understand the past, confront important issues in the present, and shape a promising future.

History

Since its founding in 1974, VH has sponsored more than 40,000 humanities programs across the Commonwealth. VH is one of 56 state humanities councils that are part of the Federation of State Humanities Councils. Humanities councils were created by the

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...

in 1974 and receive an annual congressional appropriation through the

National Endowment for the Humanities The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is an independent federal agency of the U.S. government, established by thNational Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965(), dedicated to supporting research, education, preserv ...

, which for most councils is supplemented by state and private funding. In March 2018 it assumed the new, shortened name Virginia Humanities.

Location

VH is headquartered in

Charlottesville, Virginia Charlottesville, colloquially known as C'ville, is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is the county seat of Albemarle County, which surrounds the city, though the two are separate legal entities. It is named after Queen Ch ...

on the campus of the

University of Virginia The University of Virginia (UVA) is a Public university#United States, public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United S ...

Activities

VH activities are conducted through direct funding, through working partnerships with other organizations, and through statewide and national initiatives. VH's areas of focus are broken down into: *Books, Reading, and Literacy—the importance of the text as a means of transmitting, exploring, and broadening our understanding of the human experience. * Media and Culture—the global influence of electronic media on culture, how the media may promote or undermine positive social change, and how media may influence individual perception and creative thinking. * Violence and Culture—the roots of violence and personal dislocation, and the struggle for individual survival and self-determination within systems of violence. * Rights and Responsibilities—the still-evolving American traditions of self-government and justice, and the special role Virginia has played in shaping the concept of freedom worldwide. * Science, Technology, and Social Change—advances in science and technology, the challenges and opportunities they create, and how they are redefining culture and community life. * Virginia History—the stories of Virginia, its people and institutions, with particular emphasis on the history of minority communities in the state. VH operates both the Virginia Center for the Book and the annual Virginia Festival of the Book. VH produces the radio show ''With Good Reason''.

''BackStory'' with the American History Guys

''BackStory'' was a radio show, and later weekly podcast, that used current events in America to take a deep dive into the country's past. Hosted by noted U.S. historians, each episode provides listeners with different perspectives on a particular theme or subject. The podcast is hosted by

Brian Balogh Brian Balogh is an American historian, and professor at the University of Virginia. Balogh is the director of the National Fellowship Program hosted by the Jefferson Scholars Foundation. He also co-hosts the radio program, " Backstory with the Am ...

, Ed Ayers,

Nathan Connolly Nathan Connolly (born 20 January 1981) is a Northern Irish musician, who is best known as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for alternative rock band Snow Patrol. Early life Connolly, who was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, sang for a ...

, and Joanne Freeman.

Peter S. Onuf Peter S. Onuf is an American historian and professor known for his work on President of the United States, U.S. President Thomas Jefferson and Federalism. In 1989, he was named the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation Professor of the University o ...

, along with Balogh and Ayers, founded the podcast in 2008. The show ended in 2020.

''Encyclopedia Virginia''

''Encyclopedia Virginia'' (''EV'') is a multi-year project of Virginia Humanities. "The purpose of ''EV'' is to become the first point of reference for all users interested in Virginia and to provide authoritative and accessible information for students, teachers, scholars, and business, industry, and government when they have a question about Virginia's history and culture." On May 24, 2007, the then-Virginia Foundation for the Humanities announced a $100,000 grant from

Dominion Energy Dominion Energy, Inc., commonly referred to as Dominion, is a North American power and energy company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia that supplies electricity in parts of Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina and supplies natural gas ...

's Dominion Foundation for ''Encyclopedia Virginia''.virginia.edu press release
article "''Encyclopedia Virginia'' Receives Grant from Dominion Foundation"

References

External links

*
Virginia Folklife Program on Google Cultural InstituteThe Virginia Foundation home page
{{authority control Virginia culture National Endowment for the Humanities Organizations established in 1974 1974 establishments in Virginia