With the mission to “tell the story of Virginia for ALL Virginians,” VMHC underwent a major renovation, which opened in 2022. Our Commonwealth, the core exhibition of this renewed vision, explores the regional and cultural diversity of Virginia by tracing the intersecting threads of peoples in place over time. Envisioned as a “sampler” exhibit with thematic, digital, and content flexibility built into the exhibits, Our Commonwealth invites visitors to explore and comment on two key questions: What does it mean to be Virginian? and What does it mean to be from a place?
- Location: Richmond, VA
- Timeline: September 2020 – May 2022
- Size: 5,500 sq.ft.
- Exhibit fabrication: 1220 Exhibits Inc.
- Media production: Donna Lawrence Productions
PRD understood and supported our goal to create new experiences where dialogue is encouraged and multiple perspectives are respected. The firm’s content developers and designers skillfully collaborated with our community and museum partners to build trust and give voice to those marginalized voices. Thanks PRD’s collaborative and creative approach to storytelling, the Commonwealth’s oldest cultural organization has truly evolved from being a museum about Virginia to a museum for all Virginians.
Adam Scher,
Lisa & Bill Moore Vice President for Collections & Exhibitions,
Virginia Museum of History & Culture Virginia Historical Society
Large-scale digital murals and an audio soundscape capture each region’s distinct but diverse essence, with personal storytelling showing the continuity and diversity of the regional experience.
PRD has facilitated a series of partnership-building workshops with regional museums to lay the foundation for ongoing partnerships to continually reflect the diverse stories of Virginia and Virginians as the exhibit content evolves over time.
