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Behind the Scenes of the A4L Cultural Enrichment Project

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Nathan Richardson as the real Frederick Douglass
Nathan Richardson portrays abolitionist Frederick Douglass in our Norfolk studio.
Sarah Osburn Brady and Sheila Arnold record their civil rights program.
Sarah Osburn Brady and Sheila Arnold record their civil rights program.

There’s been lots of activity in our Norfolk office lately—which doubles as a production studio—as artists record special programs for our new cultural enrichment project funded by a new SHARP grant.

It’s an exciting project for a couple of reasons—it will bring quality, humanities-based arts-in-education programming to disadvantaged students in Virginia at no cost to them or their schools. And the project will provide income to artists on our roster during a time when opportunities to practice their art forms remain limited.

Sarah Osburn Brady and Sheila Arnold record their program on civil rights.
Sarah Osburn Brady and Sheila Arnold record their program on civil rights.

Molly Stanley, A4L’s Learning and Community Engagement Manager, says the programs have significant educational value, with topics that include the civil rights movement, slavery, and the Holocaust.

“Students learn about these historical events through core classes such as social studies and language arts. Through the videos we’re producing, students can deepen their learning and make connections with these topics that are relevant to their lives.”

Participating schools can choose from these videotaped programs:

  • Frederick Douglass “On Slavery and Emancipation” by Nathan Richardson: A performance that brings the true tales of Frederick Douglass to life, from his time as a slave and his escape to freedom to his rise as a great writer, orator, and abolitionist.
  • Conscience, Stories, and Hope: Hans and Sophie Scholl’s White Rose by Sarah Osburn Brady: The story of German siblings who dared to become part of the World War II resistance, no matter what the consequences.
  • Coretta: A Legacy of Love by Valerie Davis: Hailed as the “First Lady of the Civil Rights Movement,” Coretta Scott King comes to life through music and stories revealing the triumphs and tribulations of an American legend.
  • Arabiqa by Karim Nagi: An exploration of Arab culture through language, folk music, dance, and costume that bridges the east-west cultural gap.
  • Civil Rights: Finding Your Voice by Sheila Arnold and Sarah Osburn Brady: An interactive exploration of voices from the Civil Rights movement whose lessons in speaking up show us the way to effect social change today.

The programs are designed for either elementary or middle school students and include age-appropriate teacher guides for easy and effective classroom implementation. The videos are set to debut in February. Photography and editing is provided by Rob Holmes.

Photographer Rob Holmes videotapes Sarah Osburn Brady's program.
Photographer Rob Holmes shoots Sarah Osburn Brady’s program.

Thanks to our participating artists and to the funders of this grant–Virginia Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The funding is part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and the NEH Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP) initiative.