Virginia Humanities at WHRO recently announced the winners of the second annual grant program for Hampton Roads’ museums, libraries, historic sites, and other cultural nonprofits.
Local nonprofit organizations were invited to apply for up to $6,000 for projects that explore the stories of Hampton Roads—its history, people, communities, and cultural traditions—as well as issues and questions that impact the lives of Virginians in the present day.
The awards are part of a grant program from Virginia Humanities—the state humanities council—that awarded $267,000 in 29 grants to nonprofit organizations statewide. Ten of those awards were from Virginia Humanities at WHRO.
Congratulations to our winners! A short description of their projects can be found below.
THE GATE: The Story of America’s First Contraband Community
Contraband Historical Society
Yorktown, VA
Support for a film that traces the origins of the American Contraband movement through two descendant families, illuminating life, agency, and community-building at the Grand Contraband Camp in Hampton, Virginia, during the Civil War and Reconstruction.
A Story of Generosity and Gratitude: The Merci Train
Virginia War Museum Foundation
Newport News, VA
Support for an exhibition commemorating 250 years of Franco-American friendship through interpretation of the Virginia rail car from France’s 1949 “Merci” Train, exploring its World War uses and the enduring diplomatic and civic ties between the two nations.
Amplifying Talent: Students Take the Stage at Supernova
Supernova Alliance
Hampton, Virginia
Support for a public humanities initiative in which students collaborate with artists and media professionals to document and present the cultural history of ska and Caribbean diaspora music, culminating in credited roles at the Supernova Ska Festival and the creation of broadcast-ready content.
Digging Into the Humanities: Virtual Archaeology Lessons for Virginia Classrooms
Fairfield Foundation
White Marsh, VA
Support for the development of a series of K–12 lesson plans using archaeology and the regional history of Virginia’s Middle Peninsula to deliver interdisciplinary humanities education, culminating in hands-on teacher workshops.
Other Side of the Tracks: Revitalizing Black History in Downtown Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts
Suffolk, VA
Support for a multidisciplinary humanities project that will examine the history of a once-thriving African American community through exhibitions, lectures, and educational programming to illuminate its cultural and economic contributions and the systemic forces behind its decline.
Living Memories: Newport News Korean Immigrant Oral Histories and Cultural Landscapes
Hampton University
Hampton, VA
Support for a public humanities exhibition of the oral histories and cultural landscapes of Korean immigrants in Newport News, featuring photographic displays, interpretive materials, and theater programming to raise awareness of the region’s cultural diversity.
Community Zine Project
Virginia Beach Library Foundation
Virginia Beach, VA
Support for the Zine Festival and Zine Collection Project, initiatives that foster community engagement by educating and inspiring participants to share personal perspectives through self-published works while preserving and amplifying these voices through a browsable, donation-based collection.
Made in VA 2026
Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art
Virginia Beach, VA
Support for Made in VA Biennial 2026, an exhibition showcasing diverse artistic voices from across the commonwealth through selected works exploring identity, cultural memory, and social change, complemented by public programs that will foster dialogue and community connection.
Virginia Queer Film Festival
Virginia Queer Film Festival
Norfolk, VA
Support for an annual three-day film festival showcasing LGBTQ+ stories through films, panels, and community programming to increase visibility, foster dialogue, and engage audiences and filmmakers across Hampton Roads.
Our Pieces of History: Students Lend Living Meaning to the Great American Birthday Quilt
Horizons Hampton Roads
Norfolk, VA
Support for a five-week, youth-oriented humanities program engaging over 400 K–12 students from under-resourced communities in personal storytelling and cultural exploration, culminating in their contributions to the Great American Birthday Quilt commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Virginia Humanities at WHRO is one of two regional humanities centers opened by Virginia Humanities in 2024. It is administered through WHRO Public Media.