Norfolk, VA (July 15, 2024) — Today, Virginia Humanities and WHRO Public Media announced a new regional humanities center in Hampton Roads headquartered at WHRO.
Named “Virginia Humanities at WHRO,” this new partnership will amplify stories from across Hampton Roads and illustrate the ways the humanities bring communities together and foster dialogue and understanding.
Throughout the last five decades, Virginia Humanities has supported efforts to document, preserve, and amplify Virginia’s history, heritage, and cultural traditions. “Since our founding, our mission has been to support and bring the humanities to all Virginians,” said Virginia Humanities’ executive director Matthew Gibson.
Since 1961, WHRO Public Media has inspired Eastern Virginia to feel smarter and happier through the power of nonprofit media. “We are thrilled about our new partnership with Virginia Humanities,” said Bert Schmidt, President and CEO of WHRO Public Media. “This collaboration will foster a stronger sense of connection to our local communities by enhancing the understanding of the histories, cultures, and values that define the places we live, work, visit, and call home.”
Virginia Humanities at WHRO is the first of several new regional humanities centers being launched as Virginia Humanities begins celebrating its 50th anniversary later this year. Each center will be headquartered within an existing regional organization, in either a cultural nonprofit, two-year, or four-year college. Virginia Humanities will provide expertise and funds for regranting to other local nonprofit organizations. In turn, each center will be able to support humanities programs and conversations about local topics their residents care about most.
Gibson said the regional centers are critical for the future of Virginia Humanities’ mission to center the humanities in public life. “This network of humanities centers stretching across the state will expand our work and our capacity to honor the vibrant voices and cultures that define Virginia,” said Gibson.
Virginia Humanities at WHRO officially opened on July 15, 2024. More centers will follow as Virginia Humanities celebrates its 50th anniversary through the end of 2025.
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About Virginia Humanities
Virginia Humanities is the state humanities council. We’re headquartered in Charlottesville at the University of Virginia, but we serve the entire state. We aim to share the stories of all Virginians—or, better yet, find ways for people to share their own stories. We want Virginians to connect with their history and culture and, in doing that, we hope we’ll all get to know each other a little better. 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.
About WHRO Public Media
Since 1961, WHRO Public Media has inspired Eastern Virginia to feel smarter and happier through the power of nonprofit media. We promote the kind of journalism exemplified only by public media, delivering daily inspiration that resonates within homes across our region, along with the best use of digital learning resources as vital tools in shaping the education of our next generation. Owned by 21 local school divisions, WHRO proudly delivers online educational and new media services to 286,000 students and 25,000 educators per month. To learn more, visit whro.org.