Arts | Entertainment | Sports 2023: ALEX NYERGES
While Nyerges has been director of four museums — including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for the past 17 years — he’s also a photographer. When the VMFA received more than 2,000 books focusing on American and European photography last fall, Nyerges called the gift from Barry and Gretchen Singer “a transformative donation” that […]
Arts | Entertainment | Sports 2023: PHARRELL WILLIAMS
* EDITOR’S NOTE: Since this entry was written, Williams has moved with his family to Paris, where Louis Vuitton’s corporate headquarters is located. He previously had dual homes in Virginia Beach and Miami. Williams made a worldwide splash in June when the 13-time Grammy winner debuted his first fashion collection as men’s creative director for […]
Virginia MOCA moving to Virginia Wesleyan campus
The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art is moving from Virginia Beach’s ViBe District to Virginia Wesleyan University’s campus, with the aid of a $25 million gift, the museum and university said Tuesday in announcing the partnership. The gift, from Jane Batten, Joan Brock and David and Susan Goode, will fund construction of the museum’s new […]
Richmond riverfront amphitheater gets green light
Construction could begin this summer on a $30 million, 7,500-person amphitheater overlooking the James River. On June 12, Richmond City Council approved a 20-year performance grant that gives Red Light Ventures LLC the green light to build its proposed amphitheater on four acres of land it will rent from NewMarket Corp. behind the American Civil […]
Metallica acquires Alexandria records maker
Master of puppets — and now master of vinyl record production, legendary heavy metal band Metallica has acquired a majority interest in Alexandria-based vinyl records maker Furnace Record Pressing. Financial terms of the transaction, which the two entities announced Tuesday, were not disclosed. “We couldn’t be more happy to take our partnership with Furnace … […]
VCU, VCCS to receive $3.5M for transfer student program
The Mellon Foundation will award a combined $3.5 million to Virginia Commonwealth University and the Virginia Community College System, VCU announced Tuesday. “We are excited to continue our partnership on the Mellon Pathways Program and build upon the strong history of collaboration between VCU and the Virginia Community College System,” Deborah Noble-Triplett, senior vice provost […]
Arts | Entertainment | Sports
TONY BENNETT DEAN AND MARKEL FAMILIES MEN’S HEAD BASKETBALL COACH, VIRGINIA CAVALIERS MEN’S BASKETBALL, CHARLOTTESVILLE The University of Virginia men’s basketball team fell victim to a positive COVID-19 test in March, forcing it to withdraw from the ACC Tournament — a “gut punch,” Bennett called it. The team was cleared in time to play in […]
Va. Museum of Fine Arts plans $190M expansion
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has hired the Detroit-based firm SmithGroup to design a new wing of the Richmond museum in a $190 million expansion and renovation project announced Tuesday. The new wing will provide space for African art, photography and 21st-century works, according to the museum. Construction is expected to begin in 2023, […]
Arts | Entertainment | Sports
TONY BENNETT MEN’S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, CHARLOTTESVILLE In 2019 Bennett achieved what no team had never done before — coaching his team to become NCAA men’s basketball champions in his 10th year with the program, a year after the Cavaliers fell during the first round of the tournament. Cementing his reputation as […]
VCU names arts school dean
Virginia Commonwealth University announced Monday that Carmenita D. Higginbotham will become dean of the School of Arts, starting Sept. 15. Nancy Scott, who served as interim dean , will remain until Higginbotham arrives. Higginbotham currently serves as chair of the McIntire Department of Art at the University of Virginia. At U.Va., she has also served […]
Richmond Symphony executive director stepping down
David Fisk, the executive director of the Richmond Symphony since 2002, will be leaving this fall to become president and CEO of the Charlotte Symphony in North Carolina. Born in Great Britain, Fisk is a graduate of Manchester University and the Royal Northern College of Music, where he studied piano accompaniment, harpsichord, composition and conducting. […]
Richmond Ballet announces associate artistic director
The Richmond Ballet announced Monday that Ma Cong has been named as its associate artistic director. He will serve in an adjunct capacity for 18 months before joining full time in 2022, supporting Artistic Director Stoner Winslett, who has led the ballet company since 1980. “As I finish my 40th season at Richmond Ballet, I […]