Virginia Foundation for the Humanities
Encyclopedia
The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities (VFH) aims to develop the civic, cultural, and intellectual life of the Commonwealth of Virginia by creating learning opportunities for all Virginians.
The purpose of VFH is to bring the humanities
fully into Virginia's public life, assisting individuals and communities in their efforts to understand the past, confront important issues in the present, and shape a promising future.
VFH is one of 55 state humanities councils that are part of the Federation of State Humanities Councils. Humanities councils were created by the United States Congress
in the early 1970s and receive an annual congressional appropriation through the National Endowment for the Humanities
, which for most councils is supplemented by state and private funding.
On May 24, 2007, The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities announced a $100,000 grant from The Dominion Foundation for Encyclopedia Virginia (part of the Dominion Foundation which is the philanthropic arm of Dominion
, a power and energy company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, USA).
The purpose of VFH is to bring the humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
fully into Virginia's public life, assisting individuals and communities in their efforts to understand the past, confront important issues in the present, and shape a promising future.
History
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.VFH is one of 55 state humanities councils that are part of the Federation of State Humanities Councils. Humanities councils were created by the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in the early 1970s and receive an annual congressional appropriation through the National Endowment for the Humanities
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
, which for most councils is supplemented by state and private funding.
Activities
Through direct funding, through working partnerships with other organizations, and through statewide and national initiatives, VFH reaches out to all Virginians, using the humanities as tools for addressing issues that directly affect people's lives. The priorities of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities are:- Books, Reading, and Literacy--the importance of the text as a means of transmitting, exploring, and broadening our understanding of the human experience.
- Media and Culture--the global influence of electronic media on culture, how the media may promote or undermine positive social change, and how media may influence individual perception and creative thinking.
- Violence and Culture--the roots of violence and personal dislocation, and the struggle for individual survival and self-determination within systems of violence.
- Rights and Responsibilities--the still-evolving American traditions of self-government and justice, and the special role Virginia has played in shaping the concept of freedom worldwide.
- Science, Technology, and Social Change--advances in science and technology, the challenges and opportunities they create, and how they are redefining culture and community life.
- Virginia History--the stories of Virginia, its people and institutions, with particular emphasis on the history of minority communities in the state.
Encyclopedia Virginia
Encyclopedia Virginia (EV) (preview at http://www.virginiafoundation.org/encyclopedia/preview/) is a multi-year project of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. "The purpose of EV is to become the first point of reference for all users interested in Virginia and to provide authoritative and accessible information for students, teachers, scholars, and business, industry, and government when they have a question about Virginia's history and culture."On May 24, 2007, The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities announced a $100,000 grant from The Dominion Foundation for Encyclopedia Virginia (part of the Dominion Foundation which is the philanthropic arm of Dominion
Dominion Resources
Dominion Resources Inc. , commonly referred to as Dominion, is a power and energy company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia that supplies electricity in parts of Virginia and North Carolina and supplies natural gas to parts of West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and eastern North Carolina...
, a power and energy company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, USA).