Threads & Bridges Festival

A two-day immersive experience exploring the “hyphen” in Indian-American. Presented by the Rith Initiative alongside VMHC’s landmark exhibition We the People: The World in Our Commonwealth, Threads & Bridges marks the public launch of a new oral history project and community-curated exhibition documenting Indian American life across Virginia, featuring a panel discussion with Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi, live performances, and more. About the Festival: A community-curated exhibition across fifteen stations, built on the central metaphor of a loom — threads carried by immigrant Carriers, woven in by their children and grandchildren, held steady by the family’s elders. Festival runs Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Drop in anytime in that window. Panel discussion Sunday, August 16 (1:30 – 3 pm) , Being Indian-American: Its Responsibilities and Potentials, moderated by Niraj Verma (VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs), with Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi, Neil Bhatt (AIA, NCARB), and Bhumika Tharoor (Managing Editor, The Atlantic). Live music, dance, fashion shows, an artisan market, henna, children’s activities, and food. Pricing Info: The festival is free to attend. Daily museum admission is required for gallery access which includes access to the exhibition, We The People: The World in Our Commonwealth.