The State of Cultural Heritage Tourism in Virginia Symposium

The State of Cultural Heritage Tourism in Virginia Symposium connects heritage institutions, HBCUs, destination marketing organizations, Black-owned businesses, and community leaders around a single mission: turning Virginia’s African American cultural legacy into lasting economic opportunity.

This is not a conference. This is a working day — structured for adult learners and working professionals who need outcomes, not inspiration.

The Symposium operates on two tracks simultaneously. In Richmond, 300 attendees convene for full-day facilitated sessions, MOU conversations, and direct network activation. Across Virginia, registered heritage sites connect as Remote Participation Hubs — bringing the working day directly into the communities where the heritage lives. Both tracks engage in the same conversations. Both tracks leave with the same path forward.

Attendees will engage in four facilitated conversations across the CHEWS spectrum — Culture, Health, Education, Wealth, and Stewardship — moving from origin stories to active partnership formation. Sessions are designed for peer exchange, applied strategy, and real-time decision making.

What happens at the Symposium:

• Welcome and economic framing session
• Four facilitated CHEWS professional development conversations
• MOU discussions with the African American Heritage Tourism Network
• Lunch and structured peer networking (Richmond); facilitated watch and discussion (Remote Hubs)
• Closing with documented next steps and partnership commitments

Two ways to participate:

In Person — Richmond: Full-day access to all sessions, MOU conversations, lunch, and direct network activation with DMO partners, HBCU representatives, and heritage professionals from across the state.

Remote Hub — Your Site: Register your heritage institution, library, museum, or community organization as an official Remote Participation Hub. Gather your community, connect live to the Symposium, and participate in facilitated local discussion. Hub registration includes AAHTN onboarding materials and a dedicated follow-up partnership conversation.

Who should attend:

• Destination marketing organizations and CVBs
• Heritage museums, libraries, and archives
• HBCUs — faculty, administrators, and students
• Black-owned tourism and hospitality businesses
• Community development organizations
• Local and state government partners
• Workforce development and continuing education professionals

This event qualifies as professional development. Institutional attendees are encouraged to apply applicable continuing education or professional development funding toward registration.

Walk in. Leave with a path forward.