Hiring and training new restoration craftspersons while researching the enslaved craftspersons who constructed preservation virginia historic sites [preservation virginia's lead restoration…

The National Endowment for the Humanities awarded $200,000 to Preservation Virginia through the Promotion of the Humanities Division of Preservation and Access federal grant program (CFDA 45.149) to support activities from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2023.

Under the award, Preservation Virginia will continue preservation work at five historic sites in its stewardship. The organization will research original construction methods used by enslaved laborers and document discoveries through instructional videos and webinars. Preservation Virginia will produce 12 videos for its online database to share the history. Additionally, the organization will recruit and train two new student apprentices from historically black colleges and universities to assist with preservation and research efforts. The project aims to prepare the next generation of craftspeople while documenting and sharing new insights into the historic properties' origins.

Expected outcomes

The proposed project will prepare the next generation of craftspersons and document and share new history about the historic properties in preservation virginia?s stewardship. Moreover, the intentional recruitment of students at historically black colleges and universities provides students with paid opportunities and advances diversity and inclusion in historic preservation. Preservation virginia will retain four key personnel to continue preservation work and complete the project.

Intended beneficiaries

Visitors, public audiences, scholars, staff workers, and students will benefit from the preservation work and new history that preservation virginia will work to uncover.

Subrecipient activities

The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.]