Friday, First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin and Governor Glenn Youngkin presented the third 2025 Spirit of Virginia Award to the Virginia Arts Festival at the Perry Pavilion in Norfolk, Va. The Virginia Arts Festival was recognized for its exceptional contributions to the Commonwealth. From bringing world-class performances to audiences across Virginia to inspiring students through top-tier arts education, the Festival continues to shape lives and strengthen communities.
For nearly 30 years, the Virginia Arts Festival has brought performances by the world’s great artists of music, dance, and theater to the Commonwealth. Beyond the stage, the Festival inspires new generations of Virginians through innovative arts education programs that engage and inform tens of thousands of schoolchildren each year. The Festival’s economic impact is considerable, bringing millions in revenue to Virginia businesses and establishing Virginia as a cultural destination for visitors from across the country and around the world.
The Festival’s commitment to commissioning nationally and internationally significant works, along with its leadership in driving regional collaboration and cultural tourism in Hampton Roads, continues to make a lasting and meaningful impact across the Commonwealth…