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 Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
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, including Philosophy, certain fundamental questions asked by humans. During the Renaissance, the term "humanities" referred to the study of classical literature a ...
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, legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, including a Lower house, lower body, the United States House of Representatives, ...
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 (United States), independent city in Virginia, United States. It is the county seat, seat of government of Albemarle County, Virginia, Albemarle County, which surrounds the ...
, 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, United States. It was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson and contains his The Lawn, Academical Village, a World H ...
.
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,
Ed Ayers,
Nathan Connolly, and
Joanne Freeman.
Peter S. Onuf, 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's Dominion Foundation for ''Encyclopedia Virginia''.
virginia.edu press release
article "''Encyclopedia Virginia'' Receives Grant from Dominion Foundation"
See also
*List of state humanities councils
State humanities councils in the United States are private, non-profit partners of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). There are 56 councils located in every U.S. state and jurisdiction. These councils work to support local public hu ...
* List of online encyclopedias of U.S. states
References
External links
*
Virginia Folklife Program on Google Cultural Institute
The Virginia Foundation home page
{{authority control
Virginia culture
National Endowment for the Humanities
Organizations established in 1974
1974 establishments in Virginia