Virginia Humanities

09/03/2026

We had so much fun at the 2026 National Book Festival! We asked festival attendees to share a food-related memory or recipe on one of our custom recipe cards, transforming them into a vibrant crossroads of memory and culture.

The activity sparked a fascinating mix of reactions—some attendees knew their answer instantly, while others paused, reflecting on their family traditions and the complex challenge of choosing a single dish.

We were joined by Great Reads from Great Places author Diane Flynt. Adding to the celebration, acclaimed fellow Virginia author Amber McBride stopped by the table to greet attendees and speak with the team.

See what the nation's largest book festival looks like and relive some memories with us in this post: https://loom.ly/xZpVUFI

Huge thanks to the The Library of Congress for hosting!

09/01/2026

We were very saddened to learn today that Old Regular Baptist singer and preacher Frank Newsome has passed away. Frank was a long-time friend of Virginia Humanities, especially our Virginia Folklife Program. Frank was a mentor artist in our apprenticeship program and in 2011 was named a National Heritage Fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts, the highest honor our nation bestows on traditional artists. You'll be missed.

08/28/2026

"The apprenticeship program allowed me to continue researching a specific interest of mine, with a mentor I greatly admire, all surrounding this lovely and rich place I call home. I will forever cherish the experiences I’ve been afforded because of this program." - Ozzy Freidline, apprentice artist (Virginia Salt Glaze Pottery, 2025)

Meet our new 2026 cohort of Apprenticeship Teams: https://loom.ly/DkVZxlc

And learn more about Ozzy's apprenticeship in Salt Glaze Pottery: https://loom.ly/00ZuY50

08/27/2026

📅 Don't miss these Virginia Humanities events happening across the commonwealth.



Library of Virginia The Floyd Country Store Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art George Washington's Ferry Farm and Historic Kenmore Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum Supernova International Ska Festival

08/26/2026

One week from today, tune in for this free virtual talk by Virginia Humanities HBCU Scholars Fellow Michelle Oliver. Hosted by the Library of Virginia.

Drawing on archival research conducted during Oliver’s Virginia Humanities HBCU Fellowship and informed by more than two decades of professional experience in financial systems and risk analysis, this study reexamines antebellum Virginia through the lens of insurance design.

The Library of Virginia will present “The Insurance-Industrial Complex of Slavery,” a virtual talk by Virginia Humanities HBCU Scholars Fellow Michelle Oliver, a financial genealogist, preservation strategist and public history researcher.

08/25/2026

Save the date for two events at the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum on Saturday Sept. 26!

First, from 1:00-2:30 bring the family and rediscover the art of letter writing. Handwrite and decorate a letter with art and craft supplies, turning a simple note into something to treasure. 🔗https://loom.ly/bnU58kE

Then, come back at 7PM for a special author talk and book signing with bestselling author Matthew Quick, author of "The Silver Linings Playbook," as he discusses his new memoir, "Dad, Love, Me: A Memoir." 🔗https://loom.ly/zI1fVF8

08/24/2026

Josh Manning is apprenticing Aslan “Ozzy” Freidline in how to source, harvest, process, and fire wild clay similar to that used by the first colonial potters. Tag along as they harvest clay and make pottery in the Virginia salt glaze tradition in this Sights & Sounds story from our Virginia Folklife Program.

08/21/2026

Join us in congratulating seven new Folklife Apprenticeship Teams! Since 2002, our Virginia Folklife Program has funded 155 apprenticeships in cultural traditions, serving 376 individuals to date.

The cultural traditions represented in this cohort include Clawhammer Banjo, Old Time Dance Fiddling and Flatfoot Dance, Spinning, Dyeing and Weaving, Akan Cloth Making and Folk Song, Accordion Repair, African Heritage Farming, Traditional Greek Music.

Congratulations to Jim Lloyd & Charlotte Elena Simons, Gina Dilg & Ipi Hello, Deborah L. Prescott & Toni Doman-Vandyke, Xorlali Plange & Anita Ana-Grace Abram, Matty Metcalfe & Maria Leckey, Dr. Patience Fielding & Tanya Michelle Kambou, and Dr. Spyridon (Spyros) Koliavasilis & Patricia Rader!

08/21/2026

📚 We are thrilled to announce the two books that will represent the Commonwealth of Virginia at the National Book Festival in Washington, DC, on August 22, 2026!

The 2026 Virginia Adult Readers’ Selection is "Wild, Tamed, Lost, Revived: The Surprising Story of Apples in the South" by Diane Flynt , a story about how apples changed the south and the nation.

The 2026 Virginia Young Readers’ Selection is "Mama’s Chicken and Dumplings" by Dionna L. Mann, a middle-grade historical fiction novel about a girl growing up in 1930s Virginia, who is determined to find a romantic match for her mother.

You can meet Mann and have your book signed at the 2026 National Book Festival, where she will be at the Virginia Center for the Book’s booth in the Roadmap to Reading section, from 1:00-2:30 p.m.!
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