About The Forum
What is The Richmond Forum?
The Richmond Forum is a subscription series, producing five programs each year. The biggest and most influential names in the world have taken the stage at The Forum, creating lifetime memories for our subscribers: past U.S. presidents, sitting heads of state, leaders from the sciences, arts, business, and more.
The Richmond Forum is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization.
Our Mission
To present powerful voices so Richmond can learn. To empower local voices so Richmond can lead.
Our Vision
By elevating public discourse throughout the Richmond region, we can make our community a better place for all of its residents and a model for the nation.
“The Richmond Forum elevates the stature of the Richmond community to a world-class stage of ideas, an epicenter of civil discussion, political thought, scientific advancement, and outstanding artistry.”
– Forum subscriber
Influential Names, Inspiring Evenings
Over 240 distinguished individuals have participated in The Forum since its inception in 1987. Past alumni include names like Obama, Bush, Clinton, Blair, Thatcher, Gorbachev, Kissinger, Rice, Bernanke, Tutu, Netanyahu, Bhutto, Cronkite, Brokaw, Spielberg, Redford, Winfrey, Goodall, Buchwald, Asimov, and many more.
Beyond the part The Forum plays in bringing these speakers to Richmond, what makes each program so inspiring is the dedicated and passionate audience that attends. Richmond has a long history of supporting public speaker series, hosting lively discussions, staging marches and protests, and directly engaging with the difficult issues of the time. Our speakers are impressed the first moment they step on stage at the Altria Theater. “And all of these seats are going to be full tonight?” former Executive Director Bill Chapman recalls in the foreword to The Forum’s 30th anniversary book “The Forum Files.” Yes, they are.
It’s a testament to Richmond that we are able to sustain such a beloved and critical institution for our community. It’s because of Richmond that we are able to say that The Forum is the largest nonprofit lecture series in America.
EXPLORE THE 2024 – 2025 SEASON
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Baratunde Thurston
Artificial Intelligence: What Is Real?
November 23, 2024 -
Dr. Amber Straughn
NASA’s Search for Cosmic History
January 11, 2025 -
Coach K
Playing to Win
February 15, 2025 -
Richard Reeves
Are Boys Falling Behind?
March 22, 2025 -
Martha Stewart with Soledad O’Brien
The Life Behind Living
April 26, 2025