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Category: Blavatnik Archive

Arts & Culture
April 6, 2026
Film Festival Brought Revolution Alive Again

The 2026 Gettysburg Film Festival brought national attention to the nation’s founding, convening historians, filmmakers, military leaders, authors, and performers for three days of films, discussions, and live events that explored the American Revolution and the enduring questions of liberty, self-governance, and national unity. With more than 8,000 tickets sold in advance and strong attendance across venues, the weekend reflected deep public engagement with history and its continued relevance in American civic life. Across the festival, conversations returned to the complexity of the country’s founding, the human dimensions of leadership and sacrifice, and the importance of participating actively in democracy. Appearances by Ken Burns, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Rick Atkinson, Susan Eisenhower, Jeff Shaara, Chris Mackowski, and members of the original cast of Hamilton underscored the festival’s role as a vibrant forum for historical reflection, public dialogue, and cultural exchange. The Blavatnik Family Foundation is proud to support Ken Burns, The Better Angels Society, and the Gettysburg Film Festival.

Social and Charitable Causes
March 30, 2026
This Blind Runner Ran a Half Marathon—with His Glasses Giving Him Directions

Emerging adaptive technology is helping expand access and independence for people who are blind or have low vision. Thomas Panek, CEO of Lighthouse Guild, completed the 2026 United Airlines NYC Half using AI-enabled glasses developed with Lighthouse Guild AI and Meta, demonstrating how tools designed with blind and low-vision leadership at the center can support navigation, orientation, and fuller participation in public life. Beyond the race itself, this work points to the broader potential of practical technologies that can help people move through the world with greater confidence and autonomy. The Blavatnik Family Foundation is a longtime supporter of Lighthouse Guild and Achilles International.

Arts & Culture
March 28, 2026
Dance Theatre of Harlem and Gateways Festival Orchestra Team Up for “Firebird”

Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Gateways Festival Orchestra will come together for the first time in April 2026 for a live-orchestra presentation of Firebird at New York City Center, bringing two legacy institutions into collaboration around a work that highlights artistic excellence, cultural continuity, and the power of artistry in classical music and dance. The production will feature 58 Black professional classical musicians from leading orchestras, conservatories, and the freelance community, alongside Dance Theatre of Harlem’s New York season programming and its annual Vision Gala, which supports both the company’s artistic season and its school. The Warner Music Group & Blavatnik Family Foundation Social Justice Fund is a supporter of Dance Theatre of Harlem.

Arts & Culture
March 26, 2026
Gettysburg Film Festival Featuring 250th Celebration, ‘Hamilton’ Stars

The Gettysburg Film Festival is set to return on April 4 with a focus on the American Revolution to commemorate the United States’ 250th anniversary, featuring a star-studded lineup and a special star-spangled banner. Launched in 2023 by award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns, Burns returns to Gettysburg to share selections from his new series, ''The American Revolution," and lead conversations about the 250th anniversary. Among the conversations and events in 2026, the festival will feature several members of the original Broadway cast of the hit musical "Hamilton," including Phillipa Soo, who played Eliza Hamilton, Christopher Jackson, who played George Washington, and Okieriete Onaodowan, who played Hercules Mulligan and James Madison. Additional conversations will feature discussions with historians and policy experts, such as Susan Eisenhower, the CEO of the Eisenhower Group and granddaughter of President Dwight D. Eisenhower; and retired United States Army General Stanley McChrystal, who led the Joint Special Operations Command from 2003 to 2008. The Foundation is a long time supporter of Ken Burns and the Gettysburg Film Festival.

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The Foundation contributes to renowned institutions that showcase the breadth of arts and culture, including performance, exhibition and education.

Visit the Blavatnik Archive

The Blavatnik Archive is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to preserving and disseminating materials that contribute to the study of 20th-century Jewish and world history, with a special emphasis on World War I, World War II, and Soviet Russia.

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