The Governor and First Lady presented the Spirit of Virginia Award to William King Museum of Art in Abingdon, VA. The Governor presented a proclamation in honor of Executive Director Betsy K. White. (
Governor Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin presented the Spirit of Virginia Award to William King Museum of Art in November, for the museum’s impact across the Southwest Virginia region in arts access, arts and culture education, technical skills training and workforce readiness, rehabilitation, small business development, youth programming and more.
“William King Museum of Art serves as a shining example of the positive intersection of art, history, culture, education, rehabilitation, workforce readiness and community engagement,” said Suzanne Youngkin. “I am so proud of the women who shepherd this organization and brighten the lives of Virginians living in Southwest Virginia and beyond.”
“This award is an exciting and important recognition of the service our museum strives to provide for this part of the Commonwealth. We celebrate our region’s culture, both past and present; our educational programs reach 12 school systems in nine Southwest Virginia counties; and the museum’s national accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums allows us to exhibit art not otherwise seen in this area. We take our mission very seriously and are so very grateful to the Governor and First Lady and humbled to be singled out by them in this special way,” said William King Museum of Art Executive Director Betsy K. White.
William King Museum of Art’s mission is to provide arts education, exhibit fine art and preserve the Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee region’s cultural heritage. The museum’s Art Lab learning hub includes a Digital Lab, where anyone in Southwest Virginia can access, learn and use digital tools for art, design and life. It is the only nationally accredited art museum west of Roanoke, which White says underpins its commitment to the community. Fifteen of the museum’s 17 staff are women.
During the award ceremony, Governor Youngkin presented White with a proclamation in her honor. White became Executive Director of William King Museum in 1988 and has come out of retirement twice for her work starting and growing the museum’s Cultural Heritage Project, which records objects made by hand in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee prior to 1940, in an effort to foster an appreciation of the region’s role in American material culture.
The Spirit of Virginia Award recognizes unique qualities and standout achievements across the Commonwealth and salutes Virginians for their uncommon contributions in private industries, education, culture, the arts and philanthropy. The inaugural Spirit of Virginia Award was presented to the National Center for Healthy Veterans in Altavista, Virginia, in March, followed by Jill’s House in Vienna, Virginia, in May; Hope’s Legacy Equine Rescue in Afton, Virginia, in July; and An Achievable Dream, a full K-12 education program that operates six schools in Virginia in partnership with Newport News Public Schools, Virginia Beach City Public Schools and Henrico County Public Schools, in September; and the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company in Chincoteague, Virginia, in October.
To learn more about William King Museum of Art, visit williamkingmuseum.org. William King Museum of Art is open seven days a week: Monday through Wednesday and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Admission to the museum is free.
William King Museum of Art is located at 415 Academy Drive, off West Main Street or Russell Road, in Abingdon. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, William King Museum of Art is a partner of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, a member of the Virginia Association of Museums, and is funded in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
