Mission & History
Mission
The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities (VFH) supports research, education, and programs in the humanities to assist individuals and communities to understand the past and its influence, to question and resolve issues in the present, and to shape a future committed to the common good.
Strategic Vision
Reason, imagination, and narrative inspire and sustain community. History and tradition, language and literature, arts and culture, religion, values, and place define communities. Stories unite communities, convey their meanings, and create circles of community. The VFH is committed to discovering the stories of our common wealth as Virginians, investigating the ways humanities allow us to understand the ways we belong and build our connections to each other. We accomplish this through three focus areas: Commonwealth Initiatives, Research and Education in the Public Interest, and Digital Programs.
History
VFH provides public humanities programs across Virginia. Thanks to a host of connections to Virginia's universities, cultural organizations, and schools, the foundation undertakes a host of activities conceived, developed, and carried out by VFH staff and board, including more than 2,500 grant projects that have included scores of seminars and related programs for teachers and more than 200 individual and collaborative fellowships. In all, since its founding in 1974, VFH has sponsored more than 40,000 humanities programs serving communities large and small in every region of the Commonwealth.
Focus Areas
The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities is a catalyst for the cultural, civic, artistic, and educational vitality of the Commonwealth. Our purpose is to understand the past and confront issues in the present, in order to help shape a more promising future. We seek to discover and share untold stories, encourage lifelong learning, and promote civil discourse through:
- Commonwealth Outreach
Public events, seminars, exhibitions, educational resources, and long-term initiatives statewide. - Scholarship Serving the Public
Opportunities for scholars to reach broad audiences in Virginia, the nation, and world. - Digital and Media Initiatives
Culturally relevant content produced for public radio and Internet distribution.
