Studio IX Gallery & Listening Room 
Fri. Jun. 7 – Sun. Jun. 30 
969 2nd Street SE, Charlottesville, VA 
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On Friday, June 7, from 5:30-7:30pm, Virginia Humanities African American Programs will premiere Afro-Virginia: People, Place & Power during the First Fridays Art Opening at Studio IX Gallery & Listening Room (969 2nd Street SE, Charlottesville, VA). The month-long exhibition profiles several leaders behind Virginia’s African American historic preservation movement using photos, audio recordings, and Google Maps. It features the work of Virginia Humanities staff members Miranda Bennett and Peter Hedlund (Encyclopedia Virginia), Pat Jarrett (Virginia Folklife Program), and exhibition curator Justin Reid (African American Programs).

Virginia is home to the oldest African American communities in the nation. Yet of Virginia’s nearly 250,000 state-documented cultural and historic resources, only 1% reflect African American history. A growing statewide coalition of local grassroots organizers, heritage organizations, and government officials are working to redress this disparity. Afro-Virginiashares their successes, challenges and hopes for the future, and serves as a call to greater action.