January/ February Briefs 2022

RVA Environmental Film Festival Coming Soon

The RVA Environmental Film Festival runs from February 18 through March 4; for more information visit https://rvaeff.org/2022-festival-films 

This year’s offering includes the follow films: 8 Million Angels which tells the truth about the conflict between the size of our global population and the sustainability of our planet; The Magnitude of All Things, which explores the relationship between grief and hope in times of personal and planetary change;  Motherload, which features the cargo bicycle as a vehicle for exploring motherhood in this digital age of climate change; Sustainable, a story of hope and transformation; The Guardian, a cinematic meditation on life, death, and the lengths we go to for the next generation; 2040, which explores what the future could look like by 2040; and The Sacrifice Zone, which gives an inside look into how a communities-led organization can change the law.

Richmond SPCA 20th Annual Dog Jog and 5K Returns

The Richmond SPCA’s Dog Jog and 5K Run will return to the Robins-Starr Humane Center for the event’s 20th anniversary. The local nonprofit’s signature spring fundraiser will be presented by Holiday Barn Pet Resorts, and take place on Saturday, March 26.

While welcoming participants to join the fun in person, “run anywhere” options will also be available to give animal lovers near-and-far flexibility in supporting the Richmond SPCA. The familiar chip-timed 5K Run and dog-friendly one-mile Dog Jog will be joined this year by a new “Little Paws” Fun Run for children ages four to ten years old with activities centered around the organization’s home at 2519 Hermitage Road.

“It’s been two years since our last in-person Dog Jog and 5K Run, and we cannot wait to celebrate our pets together once again at our favorite outdoor community event,” says Richmond SPCA CEO Tamsen Kingry.

Funds raised by Dog Jog and 5K Run participants will benefit approximately 4,000 homeless animals who will be sheltered at the Richmond SPCA this year as well as the lifesaving programs and services the nonprofit provides for pets and people, including low-cost veterinary care at the Susan M. Markel Veterinary Hospital. The fundraising goal for 2022 is $200,000.

Registration fees for the 20th Annual Dog Jog and 5K Run will include several exclusive items for the first thousand registered participants.

Run Anywhere participants will have access to the RaceJoy app for race guidance, time tracking and eligibility for 5K finisher prizes

Those signing up before the early-bird registration deadline of February 28 will save $10. Free signup is available for those wishing to fundraise only as “Cat Nap” participants or for kids in the “Little Paws” fun run.

For more information or to register, please visit richmondspca.org/dogjog

Second Street Gallery Awarded Two-Year $80,000 Grant

Second Street Gallery (SSG) is pleased to announce an $80,000 grant over two years from the New York–based Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. The grant will be used to support the gallery’s exhibitions and artist programming in 2022 and 2023.

“We are thrilled to once again be recognized by the Andy Warhol Foundation through its support of the gallery,” says executive director and chief curator Kristen Chiacchia. “I am personally honored by the Foundation’s acknowledgement of our strong exhibitions and artist programming. This grant allows SSG to continue fulfilling its mission to elevate art and artists in Central Virginia and beyond.”

The grant will assist in funding more than 25 exhibitions; an artist-in-residence opportunity; and numerous artist-led community programs such as lectures, tours, classes, and hands-on art-making workshops. 

Second Street Gallery also received significant funding this past year from Rebuild VA, the Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band, and the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation.

In accordance with Andy Warhol’s will, the mission of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts is the advancement of the visual arts. To date, the foundation has given nearly $260 million in cash grants to over 1,000 arts organizations in 49 states and abroad, and has donated 52,786 works of art to 322 institutions worldwide.

Founded in 1973, Second Street Gallery is the oldest nonprofit 501(c)(3) contemporary art space in Central Virginia. Second Street Gallery’s primary mission is to enliven Virginia through access to the best in contemporary art and artists and to inspire new ways of thinking, seeing, and doing.

Richmond 911 switches to Internet-based system to prepare for future advancements

RICHMOND, Virginia – No longer relying on copper wires to transmit calls, the Richmond Department of Emergency Communications switched to an Internet Protocol-based 911 system in late 2021.

The department began preparing for the switch to the digitally adapted system in 2018, and it was deployed in October 2021.

“We are consistently on the forefront of technological innovations,” said Stephen Willoughby, director of the Richmond Department of Emergency Communications. “This advancement to Next Generation 911 allows us to continue to provide outstanding 911 emergency services to the city of Richmond.”

With a vast majority of calls coming from wireless phones, this infrastructure helps ensure that 911 calls are routed to the closest emergency communications center. It also allows call-takers more accuracy in locating 911 callers, because it uses geographic information systems (GIS) in mobile phones, rather than determining callers’ locations based on cell phone towers. In addition, it provides a more direct connection, reducing the time it takes for a call to reach the emergency communications center.

If a natural disaster or other crisis were to render the emergency communications center unusable or overloaded, this Internet Protocol (IP) based system makes it easier and more efficient for the Richmond Department of Emergency Communications to continue operations and recover quickly.

“Next Generation 911 not only improves our system now, but it also will allow us to take advantage of future technological advances,” Willoughby said. These advances could include accepting the transmission of images and videos and communicating with smart devices and sensors in the future. 

Learn more about Next Generation 911 at 911.gov, and watch the video here: https://youtu.be/OyrfOwIpOuw.

VisArts Announces COVID-19 Protocols

VisArts genuinely cares about the health and well-being of everyone who uses their spaces, so they are taking precautions to ensure that our entire community stays safe. 

Beginning with their spring 2022 session that starts March 28th, they we will require that all adults ages 18 and over be fully vaccinated in order to attend in-person classes or to participate in studio access programs. Individuals must provide proof of vaccination and have this verified before they can attend their first class or work in VisArts studios. Individuals that do not provide proof will not be permitted to attend the class or work in the studios. 

VisArts staff, teachers, studio monitors, and volunteers working with our youth programs are already required to be fully vaccinated, which means that all adult individuals working in a VisArts studio will be fully vaccinated.

You can upload proof of vaccination on their website; email a picture of the front and back of your vaccination card to vaccination@visarts.org; or show your vaccination card in person to VisArts staff at the front desk.  

Submit your proof of vaccination online or via email between January 3rd and March 25th to receive a discount code for $10 off a VisArts class. 

At this time, proof of vaccination isn’t required for youth students under 18 years old. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is also not required to visit the center, attend gallery openings or events, or for short-term volunteer commitments. However, as an organization that serves youth and high-risk individuals, VisArts will continue to require masks in their facilities regardless of vaccination status.