#RIP_VCU - 1708 Gallery and the Institute for Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University - APRIL 2025

Richmond-based artist and educator John D. Freyer successfully launched Recovery in Practice, a three-day gathering that brought together artists, authors, activists, and researchers to explore the many pathways of practicing recovery and celebrating creative practice. Hosted at the Institute for Contemporary Art and the 1708 Gallery from April 17–19, 2025, the event was free and open to the public, drawing students, faculty, and community members into meaningful conversations and immersive experiences centered on recovery, harm reduction, and social impact.

The conference started Thursday evening with a vibrant opening reception and keynote speaker session featuring photographer Margaret Stratton at the 1708 Gallery. Attendees were welcomed into a space of dialogue and connection, setting the tone for the days ahead.

Over the next two days, Recovery in Practice offered a robust lineup of panel discussions, workshops, and collaborative conversations. Artists and creatives in recovery, such as Carvell Wallace, Elizabeth Huey, Dyan Neary, and Sarah Shotland, shared personal stories, while educators and peer support advocates like the Health Brigade and RIFFS AND RECOVERY discussed strategies for community building, stigma reduction, and the intersection of recovery and decarceration. Each session was designed not only to inform but to actively engage participants in shaping a more inclusive and empathetic recovery culture.

Throughout the event, impactful collaborations with our sponsors - the VCU Humanities Research Center, VCUarts, Rams in Recovery, and Richmond’s Inclusive Recovery City Initiative demonstrated the power of interdisciplinary partnerships. These alliances helped frame Recovery in Practice as both an educational forum and a celebration of lived experience.

An extension of VCU’s broader efforts in collegiate recovery, Recovery in Practice highlighted the essential role of peer support and community engagement in transforming recovery conversations on campus and beyond. Rams in Recovery played a key role in anchoring the event, offering students in recovery a safe and empowering space to connect, learn, and grow.

By the event’s conclusion on Saturday, attendees left with not only a deeper understanding of recovery as a practice but also a renewed commitment to advocacy, compassion, and social change. As Freyer and his collaborators continue to grow this event, Recovery in Practice has established itself as a part of Richmond’s creative and recovery landscape.

For more information and to explore the full schedule of events, visit: https://ripvcu.sched.com/