Images from: "The Jefferson School, a Modern American Story"

Andrea Douglas

Andrea Douglas, Executive Director of Charlottesville’s Jefferson School African American Heritage Center will present “The Jefferson School, a Modern American Story” in celebration of the School’s 150th anniversary. Just nine months after the end of the Civil War, the Jefferson School opened its doors and continued to operate solely for African Americans in Charlottesville until 1965. For 150 years, the School has been a thriving and constant fixture in the local landscape—and its students, teachers, and supporting community have played a decisive role in the modern history of Charlottesville. Andrea’s compelling presentation celebrates this story through personal narrative and a visual history drawn from the Jefferson School photographic archives.

Andrea Douglas holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in art history from the University of Virginia and an M.B.A. in arts management and finance from Binghamton University, NY. Formerly, she was curator of collections and exhibitions and curator of contemporary art at the University of Virginia. Andrea’s research considers the cultural and social connections in the biographies of 20th and 21st century artists of the African Diaspora.

The 2015 Festival is curated by Kathy Ryan, Director of Photography at The New York Times Magazine and Scott Thode, independent curator.