Randall Reid-Smith
Cabinet Secretary
Operating Hours
Open Tuesday through Saturday
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed
Sundays and Mondays
Senior Staff
Andrea Thompson, Deputy Curator
Sam Calvert, Director of Administration
Caitlyn Taylor, Executive Assistant to the Secretary
Welcome from Secretary Randall Reid-Smith
Randall Reid-Smith, of Barboursville, has served as the Governor’s Curator for the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History since June 2018. He continues to serve as the Commissioner of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, a position he has held since 2006. In both roles, Reid-Smith administers the State Arts Office, the West Virginia State Archives, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Library section, and the West Virginia State Museum. In addition, he oversees the Educational Broadcasting Authority, West Virginia Volunteer Services, and the National Coal Heritage Area Authority. He is an accomplished opera singer who has won numerous competitions at the state and regional levels and is listed in the International Who’s Who of Music and Musicians. Since the mid-1980s, Reid-Smith has maintained an international career as an operatic tenor. He taught at colleges around the country, and currently is an Adjunct Professor of Voice at West Virginia State University. Before returning to his native West Virginia, Reid-Smith served as the Director of Education and Outreach and Production at the Toledo Opera Association in Toledo, Ohio.
The mission of the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History is to identify, preserve, protect, promote and present the ideas, arts and artifacts of West Virginia’s heritage, building pride in our past accomplishments and confidence in our future.
The West Virginia State Museum, located in the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex, Charleston, is operating under normal business hours, Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Boards & Commissions
The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History is comprised of several boards and commissions.
Programs
Save The Music Foundation
The Save The Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring instrumental music education programs in America’s public schools, and raising awareness about the importance of music as part of each child’s complete education. To date, Save The Music has provided more than $45 million in new musical instruments to over 1,700 public schools in more than 100 cities around the country, impacting the lives of more than 1.5 million children.
The Foundation’s renewed commitment to donate one hundred million dollars’ worth of new musical instruments to ensure that even a greater number of students receive a comprehensive music education in the coming decade.
Save The Music has had great success in West Virginia. Pairing with the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, the collaborative efforts have put over 4.8 million dollars of free instruments, instructional materials, music stands, and provides free clinics to West Virginia Band Directors in 120 middle schools across the state.
Get involved and learn more at savethemusic.org