Archive for category: Upcoming

In response to calls for cultural institutions to provide an unvarnished history of Richmond’s past, the Valentine has adopted an ambitious plan: completely reinterpret Edward Valentine’s sculpture studio, where he conceived many significant Lost Cause artworks. In 2020, the Valentine sought community input from the greater Richmond region via a public survey on how to reimagine the space. Edward Valentine was one of the founders of the museum and played a central role in creating and disseminating Lost Cause iconography. The newly reimagined studio will provide visitors a space to confront and reckon with the painful history of Richmond’s and the Valentine’s early role in the development and spread of the harmful Lost Cause mythology.

In 2021, the Valentine engaged award-winning architecture and design firm Studio Joseph to produce concept designs for the Studio space. In 2022, the Valentine will collect feedback from the Richmond community on these designs.

Relatedly, the Valentine is working with Reclaiming the Monument as well as the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia to engage directly with the Richmond community around the issues of monuments and public art. Feedback gathered through these partnerships will also inform the final Valentine Studio design. Your input will help the Valentine understand how our community thinks and feels about these topics and how we can best serve the Richmond region in the future.

To provide your thoughts on monuments, click HERE.