IAWA Center

The University Libraries at Virginia Tech host and maintain the archival collections that make up the IAWA, which are physically located at Special Collections and University Archives in Newman Library. Our work is supported by a Board of Advisors in the IAWA Center of the College of Art, Architecture, &Design. The Center supports global scholarship and research grants, hosts symposia for IAWA scholars, develops traveling exhibits, identifies and connects with potential donors, and generally oversees the direction of the IAWA initiative.

The IAWA Center is managed by a board of international advisors and an Executive Board of Virginia Tech faculty.

  • The IAWA Center
  • Board of Advisors
  • Bliznakov Research Prize
  • Archivist's Report
  • IAWA Center Newsletters
  • Annual Symposium

Visit the IAWA Center website to learn more about awards, events, and ongoing projects, like the 1x1 initiative.

Visit the IAWA Center's site for the most current list of Advisors and Executive Committee members whose expertise helps support the work of the IAWA.

Each year, the IAWA Center awards research stipends to students and international scholars to support travel to Virginia Tech to visit the IAWA and meet with fellow scholars.

Learn more about the <a target="_blank" href=https://iawacenter.aad.vt.edu/prizes/milka-bliznakov.html">Milka Bliznakov Research Prize</a>

Each year, Special Collections staff submit to the Board a formal report of the University Libraries' contributions to the IAWA, including recent acquisitions, processed collections, and outreach activities.

View and download reports since 1997.

The IAWA Center has published an annual newsletter (with occasional interruptions) since 1989. These can be viewed as PDFs in the VTechWorks repository, a University Libraries project which hosts and stores scholarly work by members of the Virginia Tech community.

Browse IAWA Center Newsletters since 1989.

Coinciding with Women's History Month events in March, the IAWA Symposium hosts an international symposium of practitioners, educators, and scholars, including international keynote speakers and recipients of the Bliznakov Research Prize. Special Collections and University Archives hosts exhibits, tours, and plans other outreach activities.

Learn more about the Annual IAWA Symposium

The 2026 IAWA Symposium call for abstracts will be issued in September 2025