The black history museum & cultural center of virginia (bhmva) will build organizational capacity by staffing the museum with a registrar, an education assistant, and an administrative assistant

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, Inc. $950,488 under the Museum Grants for African American History and Culture program (CFDA 45.309) on October 1, 2025. The three-year project, extending through September 30, 2028, focuses on building organizational capacity through strategic staffing and workforce development initiatives. The museum will hire a registrar, education assistant, and administrative assistant while developing comprehensive job descriptions and establishing an internship program designed to create a pipeline of eligible students and recent museum studies graduates from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other higher education institutions.

With these staffing and infrastructure improvements in place, the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia will expand its service delivery capacity to offer increased educational programming, enhance community access to collections, and develop stronger engagement opportunities for visitors and future museum professionals. This project aligns with the AAHC program's dual goals of building institutional capacity at African American museums and supporting the growth and development of professional museum workforces.

Bhmva will develop job descriptions, initiate an internship program, and engage with hbcus and other institutions of higher education to develop a pipeline of eligible students and recent museum studies graduates. With a full staff, bhmva will be able to offer more educational programs, increase community access, and enhance engagement opportunities.