Music & Performing Arts

Join us every Wednesday for in-person performances by some of the area’s best jazz musicians.  

Classic covers are reimagined with a sound that honors the past and embraces the future: jazz and funk, past and present—drawing inspiration from Ryan Porter and Herbie Hancock. Featuring Myrish Spell on trombone, George Cruz on keys, Jeff Harper on bass, and Cameron Patterson on drums. 

Dominion Energy Jazz Café is presented in partnership with the Richmond Jazz Society.  

• Seating is limited and provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Early arrival is strongly recommended.
• Saving seats for others is discouraged.
• Seats can no longer be saved once the performance begins.
• Please do not move the chairs and tables.
• No outside chairs or gallery stools are permitted.
• No outside alcohol is permitted.
• Harassing, discriminatory, or threatening behavior is strictly prohibited.

Maintaining a free, safe, and accessible experience for all is our priority. Come and enjoy the music!

Maintaining a free, safe, and accessible experience for all is our priority. Come and enjoy the music!  

This event is part of our Dominion Energy Jazz Café program series.

After 5 Fridays is the perfect way to kick off the weekend. Relax with a beverage, visit the galleries for an art escape, and take part in the evening’s featured attraction. 

Dr. JoVia Armstrong and Nicole Mitchell, two boundary-pushing artists, come together for a duo performance that merges acoustic and electronic sound. This evening centers on bold experimentation, deep groove, and imaginative sonic exploration, pairing Armstrong’s innovative percussion with Mitchell’s world-renowned flute artistry. 

Dr. JoVia Armstrong is an award-winning percussionist, sound artist, composer, producer, and an assistant professor of music at the University of Virginia who has performed internationally with groups including the Black Earth Ensemble and Les Nubians.  

Nicole Mitchell is a world-caliber flautist, composer, and bandleader. Collaborating with jazz, Mitchell has won the United States Artist Award, the Doris Duke Artist Award, and the Herb Alpert Award in the Arts. Mitchell leads the Chicago-based Black Earth Ensemble and is a professor of music at the University of Virginia.  

 This event is part of our After 5 Fridays program series.

Photo of Nicole Mitchell by Shannon Kelly; photo of Dr. JoVia Armstrong courtesy of Dr. JoVia Armstrong

After 5 Fridays is the perfect way to kick off the weekend. Relax with a beverage, visit the galleries for an art escape, and take part in the evening’s featured attraction. 

This is your invitation to move, connect, and have fun—no experience needed!
Polina Kravchuk of Fred Astaire Dance Studios Richmond will lead guests through the timeless beauty of waltz, a dance known for its graceful movement, soft rotation, and elegant partnership. This lesson captures the Impressionist world of light, color, and social dancing to help guests feel the joy of moving together.

Polina is known not only as a decorated professional, but also as a beginner specialist for her encouraging teaching style and ability to make ballroom dance feel both approachable and special. 

Whether you are brand new to dance or simply ready for a beautiful evening at the museum, this experience offers a chance to step onto the floor with confidence, connection, and a little bit of Parisian charm.

This event is part of our After 5 Fridays program series.

Presented by VMFA and the Pocahontas Reframed Film Festival, this powwow features family activities, artist demonstrations, and performances showcasing celebrated dancers from multiple Native American nations.