During the 2025 Virginia General Assembly Session, McGuireWoods Consulting senior vice president Fran Bradford and assistant vice president Nicole McAllister helped to secure an additional $2 million dollars in one time funding for the Virginians for the Arts.
Virginians for the Arts is a nonprofit organization that aims to increase public awareness of the importance of the arts and its impact on Virginian culture and economy. The organization also advocates for funding for the Virginia Commission for the Arts, with an ultimate goal of the commonwealth supporting the arts at $1 per capita.
While Virginians for the Arts initially requested $500,000 in the state budget and the McGuireWoods Consulting team advocated for those additional funds, the final version of the budget included an increase of $2 million in additional funds for the Virginia Commission for the Arts.
The effort was collaborative, involving the McGuireWoods Consulting team, Virginians for the Arts and the Virginia Commission for the Arts. The team also worked with a national arts organization to utilize their data to aid in engaging key legislators.
The team hopes this investment allows more arts organizations to expand access, programming and outreach. History shows that even small grants can be the difference between launching a community program or an arts organization having to limit its community offerings.
“These are not just enrichment activities,” said Del. Rae Cousins, one of several amendment patrons as she spoke about the importance of the arts on the floor of the House of Delegates. “They are essential economic engines that support jobs, education, tourism and small business development. Investing in the arts means investing in Virginia’s future.”
