Media Alert
August 30, 2023
Taylor Fuqua, Manager of PR & Marketing; tfuqua@VirginiaHistory.org; 804.342.9661
Richmond, VA – Beginning September 1, organizations are invited to submit funding applications for the 2024 cycle of the Commonwealth History Fund, a grant program established by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) in partnership with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR).
The Commonwealth History Fund was established in 2021 to support and encourage meaningful history education and preservation projects throughout Virginia. The fund was designed to provide grants of approximately $400,000 per year and nearly $2,000,000 overall in its first five years. Eligible grantees include Virginia non-profits, educational institutions, and state-recognized Virginia Indian tribes. Funding can be used for a variety of purposes including preservation, publications, research, conservation of artifacts, and educational programming.
To date, the Commonwealth History Fund has aided in fostering new partnerships, innovative projects, and the development of new public history resources that will have a lasting impact on the Commonwealth. The continuing success of the Commonwealth History Fund reflects the dedication of Virginian organizations who are making advancements in the study, exploration, and understanding of Virginia’s rich history.
Past projects include Virginia Indian tribes who have used the funds to purchase property and provide spaces for public engagement, as well as ones focused on language restoration; Preservation organizations who have used funds to help rehabilitate Virginian historical sites; and Museums who have used funds to conduct research and develop exhibitions, create open-access online and digital resources, as well as make upgrades and equip spaces vital to preserving and presenting Virginia history.
Applications for the third annual grant cycle will be received between September 1-30, 2023. Awards will be announced in early 2024. Applicants can view grant guidelines and download the application for the Commonwealth History Fund at VirginiaHistory.org/HistoryFund.
The Virginia Museum of History & Culture is owned and operated by the Virginia Historical Society — a private, non-profit organization established in 1831. The historical society is the oldest cultural organization in Virginia, and one of the oldest and most distinguished history organizations in the nation. For use in its state history museum and its renowned research library, the historical society cares for a collection of more than nine million items representing the ever-evolving story of Virginia. The Virginia Museum of History & Culture is located at 428 N Arthur Ashe Boulevard in Richmond’s Museum District. For more information call 804.340.1800, visit VirginiaHistory.org, or connect on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.