Virginia Commission for the Arts grant Announcement

We’re Honored to Announce Our Virginia Commission for the Arts Grant Award!

The Samuel D. Outlaw Blacksmith Shop Memorial Museum is proud to be a recipient of an Arts in Practice grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts! This generous support will help bring “Forging Rhythm & Roots: African American Music, Movement, and Cultural Memory” to life at our upcoming Shoebox Lunch Festival, featuring an interactive performance and workshop by the Tidewater African Cultural Alliance (TACA).

This funding plays a vital role in our efforts to preserve and celebrate the legacy of Samuel D. Outlaw—one of Virginia’s last known Black blacksmiths and a powerful civic leader—and to offer vibrant cultural programming that uplifts Black history, artistry, and community connection across the Eastern Shore.

We are deeply grateful to the Virginia Commission for the Arts for investing in our mission and supporting experiences that inspire pride, learning, and cultural continuity for future generations.