VAM and State History Museum Unite to Share Knowledge and Commemorate America's 250th Anniversary
A new partnership between the Virginia Association of Museums and the Virginia Museum of History & Culture will support and inspire museums in every corner of the Commonwealth.
RICHMOND, Va. — As the United States prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation in less than a year, the Virginia Association of Museums (VAM) and the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) have formed a strategic partnership to provide broad support for the Commonwealth’s museums and encourage their efforts to mark America’s Semiquincentennial, while spotlighting VMHC’s leading commemorative program as a model. This collaboration and VMHC’s financial backing will empower VAM’s continued and timely effort to serve its statewide network of 2,500 museum professionals and member organizations.
VMHC’s 250th Initiative is a multiyear, multi-million-dollar program that includes statewide traveling exhibitions, such as Virginia’s official 250th exhibit, “Give Me Liberty: Virginia & The Forging of a Nation.” It also features major commemorative events, new scholarship and publications, and far-reaching digital projects like the popular new podcast, “Revolution Revisited.” A historic investment in statewide civics education, which brings together and empowers Virginia’s leading K-12 civics organizations under the VMHC’s leadership, accompanies the VMHC’s new, statewide affiliate program for Virginia’s several hundred local and regional history museums — providing new grant opportunities and organizational resources.
“The partnership with VMHC helps fulfill VAM’s mission of strengthening and connecting our member museums,” said VAM’s Executive Director Casey Jenkins. “We are grateful to the VMHC for their support and strong example.”
VAM’s Top Ten Endangered Artifacts Program has been nationally recognized and replicated by other states while helping more than 200 organizations. The program serves to identify significant, endangered artifacts at museums, libraries, archives and other collecting institutions. The annual top ten list creates a greater awareness of the important and diverse stories told through these rare treasures, and the VMHC’s contribution will provide critical funds for the program over the next two years.
The VMHC will also be the presenting sponsor of VAM’s annual conference in 2026 in Colonial Williamsburg. From March 14 to 17, 2026, the network of museum professionals will gather as peers who deeply care about their work and Virginia’s thriving museum ecosystem. Continuing the theme of the 2025 conference — how museums ask their audiences to look to the past to understand the present and shape a better future — the 2026 conference will reflect on how museums can revolutionize and spark transformation within their own communities. “Museums, like revolutions, hold the promise of change,” said Jenkins. “The 2026 conference will celebrate how small ‘r’ revolutions help build and empower resiliency across VAM's extensive network of cultural institutions.”
“America’s 250th provides us the timely opportunity to use history’s capacity for healing and inspiration — to bring people together in celebration, and to encourage our nation forward on its journey toward A More Perfect Union,” said VMHC President & CEO Jamie Bosket. “This partnership will help us meet the moment together. By sharing what we have learned with our fellow VAM members, the VMHC aspires to build new bridges across the Commonwealth in the lead-up to America’s 250th.”
For more information, visit virginiahistory.org/250.
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Media Contact
Brad Tuggle
Virginia Museum of History & Culture