We believe the arts serve as a voice for the people. Through creative expression artists confront injustice, transcend barriers, and create shared understanding. We believe it is important that the Modlin Center creates space for these important conversations.
Although the world has changed in how we gather at the moment, our mission to offer diverse and vibrant arts experiences that engage, inspire, and enrich our community has not changed.
Weekly, we will share performing arts experiences from Modlin Center artists that you can enjoy from your home. We will also highlight some of the work for which we are most proud — bringing arts-based educational experiences to University of Richmond students, area K-12 schools, Richmond community, and our patrons.
While the Modlin Center may be closed, the show must go on. Click here for an ever-growing list of organizations that are offering free online visual and performing arts experiences.
A RIVER BETWEEN: THE MAKING OF RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY
TV & Online | Sunday, June 14, 5:30-7pm
Join us this Sunday for special television and online viewing of A River Between: The Making of Rappahannock County. A film about the making of our world premiere piece by acclaimed composer Ricky Ian Gordon and librettist Mark Campbell. The work was co-commissioned by the Modlin Center for the Arts, Virginia Arts Festival, Virginia Opera, and Texas Performing Arts at The University of Texas at Austin.
Rappahannock County premiered on April 12, 2011 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War, the same day that Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter in 1861.
An Algonquin word meaning “rapidly rising waters,” Rappahannock County features a cast of five principal singers performing more than thirty roles. The stories within Rappahannock County were inspired by letters, diaries and other personal accounts, presenting a series of snapshots of life and loss during the Civil War. Over the course of five acts representing five years, the work explores the war’s impact, from secession to defeat and is enhanced by projections of Civil War photography, illustrations, and other moving visuals designed by Wendall Harrington.
The program will be available on television on WHRO Public Media TV-15 and also online through a link that will be posted on the Facebook event page on Sunday.
COOPED
JAMAR ROBERTS
Online
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater resident choreographer and dancer Jamar Roberts was commissioned by the Guggenheim Works & Process series to set a new virtual work while observing social distancing guidelines. Cooped, a "dance about the state of emergency we're in" (New York Times), was inspired by statistics showing the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 crisis on Black and Brown communities.
ARTISTS RESPOND TO INJUSTICE
Seven artists share their thoughts on the role of musicians in enacting social change and how artists can respond to injustice in a recent NewMusicBox article.
One of the artists featured is Nathalie Joachim, GRAMMY Award®-nominated flutist, composer, and vocalist and former member of Eighth Blackbird, a contemporary chamber ensemble. Eighth Blackbird was the Department of Music ensemble in residence from 2004-2020. Joachim describes thoughts on the work that must be done for artists and the industry to create an infrastructure that supports everyone.
TALKING ABOUT RACE
Online Educational Resource
The National Museum of African American History and Culture has created a web portal to help individuals, educators, families, and communities explore issues of race, racism, and racial identity through the use of digital tools, online exercises, video instructions, scholarly articles and more than 100 multimedia resources.
VISITING ARTIST PROGRAM:
SPHINX VIRTUOSI
Recently named as one of "26 Organizations to Support Emerging Black Artists, Thinkers, and Change-Makers" Sphinx Virtuosi, is one of the nation's most dynamic professional chamber orchestras. Comprised of the top Black and Latinx classical soloists, Sphinx Virtuosi is part of the larger Sphinx Organization, a social justice organization dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts.
Sphinx Virtuosi held an artist residency at the Modlin Center for the Arts that focused on educational engagement with University students, local school children, and moments for deeper connection with our community. Children at St. Andrew's School in Richmond were given an in-school violin masterclass and an assembly performance followed by Q&A. University of Richmond president, Dr. Ronald A. Crutcher, hosted Sphinx Virtuosi, University students, and faculty for a dinner and discussion at his home. Artist partners Catalyst Quartet participated in both a chamber masterclass for Department of Music students and a pre-concert talk with Dr. Crutcher before the Sphinx Virtuosi's public performance at Camp Concert Hall.
Follow the Sphinx Organization on Facebook to learn about their virtual conversations and performance streaming opportunities.
University of Richmond Experts Share Research, Knowledge, and Helpful Tips Related to COVID-19
From mathematical modeling of infectious disease to healthy eating to the economic impact,
Healthline's article "Lyme Disease and COVID-19 Can Share Similar Symptoms: How to Tell Them Apart" quotes Jory Brinkerhoff, biology professor and disease ecologist.
Faculty Experts Respond to Protests
UR faculty share their expertise and insight as protests continue following the death of George Floyd.
SOLIDARITY SIGNS
Online
Richmond's Studio Two Three is offering several free downloadable and printable signs of solidarity to use for your home or business.
RICHMOND PRIDE RIDE
Virtual Map
Celebrate Pride Month and RVA Bike Month in a socially distanced way with Pride Ride. The ride has 20 stops that provide an opportunity to learn more about Richmond's important LGBTQ+ history.
CIVIL RIGHTS RICHMOND:
MUSEUM IN A BOX
University Museums is creating a free resource, Civil Rights Richmond: Museum in a Box that will be available both online soon and as a portable, physical resource (once COVID-19 dissipates).
Each box includes lesson plans based on the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) and relevant activities to encourage discussion, observation, and investigation. If would like to be notified when this resource is available, please contact Martha Wright, assistant curator of academic and public engagement.
LEARN MORE
Made possible by grant funding from Virginia Humanities
INFORMATION AND QUESTIONS
For information on performances that have been canceled, please visit our website.
Account credits and refunds have been processed for all performances from March 14, 2020. For questions or inquiries regarding account credits and refunds for tickets to canceled performances, please email the ticket office at modlinarts@richmond.edu.
"GRADUATION" PLAYLIST
With many area K-12 schools completing their academic year this week, we would like to celebrate the graduates who endured an incredibly challenging final year. Despite constant disruptions and in the face of persistent uncertainty, you made it! Your perseverance is inspiring. To all the graduates, from Pre-K – Graduate degrees, congratulations and we wish you the very best!
Vitamin C “Graduation”
Mikki Ekko “Watch Me Rise”
Flo Rida “Good Feeling”
Cyndi Lauper “Time After Time”
American Authors “Best Day of My Life”
Paramore “Future”
Shawn Mendes “Something Big”
Pharrell Williams “Happy”
OneRepublic “Counting Stars”
Journey “Don’t Stop Believin’”
Imagine Dragons “On Top of the World”
Miley Cyrus “The Climb”
One Direction “History”
Bob Dylan “Forever Young”
Katy Perry “Firework”
Hillary Duff “Fly”
Lukas Graham “7 Years”
Beyoncé “I Was Here”
Kool & The Gang “Celebration”
