Music & Performing Arts

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

Duke Benet and company serve up sophisticated, smooth jazz grooves that set the perfect mood for Jazz Café. Inspired by legends like Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, and Luther Vandross, Benet and his band deliver a modern vibe that’s elegant and everlasting.

Featuring Duke Benet on soprano, alto, and tenor saxophones; Chan Hall on keyboards; David Stocker on guitar; Andy Edwards on bass; and Ronnie Thomas on drums.

Know Before You Go

• 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!

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

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

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

Fasten your seatbelts, Jazz Café! The Hurricane Party has a powerful delivery of music that’s been described as “the force of a locomotive." The band is tight with the sounds of the roots of American music that elevate your mood, entrance your spirit, and ultimately make you want to dance. Get ready for a good time!

Featuring Frank Jackson on guitar; Kelli Strawbridge on drums, percussion, and vocals; Rocky Pleasants on vocals; Jenny “Buttafly” Vazquez Santamaria on vocals; Jared Bookbinder on keyboards; and Seth Morrissey on bass

Know Before You Go

• 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!

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

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

Bring the whole family for a celebration of African and African American cultures through art and music. Participate in art activities such as painting a rhythmic design, creating a musician portrait, collaging with jazz imagery, and making your own drum. Add to our collaborative artwork and paint your own rhythm. Feel the beat with DJ Mikemetic in the Sculpture Garden, check out dynamic performances by Elegba Folklore Society, and so much more!

About Family Days
Held three times a year, Family Days invite adults and kids of all ages to discover the richness of world cultures, the science behind artmaking, and the stories behind artists and their art. Activities include artist demonstrations, hands-on art projects, and music and dance performances. Each Family Day is tied to a world culture and draws on the museum’s collection of art, which spans nearly 5,000 years of history.

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.

Celebrate Juneteenth and Black Music Month with art, music, and more. Enjoy hip-hop line dancing from 6 to 7:30 PM in the Cochrane Atrium as Kemel Patton, the line dance king, walks you through the current line dances (and a few tried-and-true ones). Take in the summer breeze on the Pauley Patio and bask in the picturesque sculpture garden as Aliyah the DJ plays R&B classics, hip-hop, soul, and house music from today and back in the day. Do it all. Go back and forth. Dance freestyle or in a line, inside or out. It's your choice!

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

Bringing international sensations to the VMFA stage, this live concert showcases the mesmerizing quality of traditional Indian instruments, such as the sarod and tabla, performed by world-renowned artists: sarod grand master Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan Ali Bangash, and Ayaan Ali Bangash, accompanied by Amit Kavthekar on tabla. Get your tickets to an evening of music with Sarod Trilogy. And don't forget to plan your visit by also getting tickets to VMFA's special exhibition India's Great Mughals: Art, Power, and Opulence. 

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.

 DJ Monea will be on the spin on the Pauley Center patio playing all your favorite tunes, from Motown to neo-soul to house music. Join us in the Robins Sculpture Garden, bring a blanket or lawn chairs, and come ready to dance. Beer, wine, and snacks are available for purchase in the Best Café. In case of inclement weather, we'll move the party to the Cochrane Atrium.

This event is part of our After 5 Fridays 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. 

Now in its sixth year, the Sol Skool Arts Festival brings together music, live entertainment, poetry, and artistic expression in one inspiring setting. This singular event is hosted by Jamil Jasey and Friday Love, with music by DJ Real True Poet setting the vibe throughout the evening. Experience culture, connection, and unforgettable performances in a fun-filled event for the whole family. 

This event is part of our After 5 Fridays 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.

 DJ Zulu will be on the spin on the Pauley Center patio, so join us in the Robins Sculpture Garden, bring a blanket or lawn chairs, and come ready to dance. Beer, wine, and snacks are available for purchase in the Best Café. In case of inclement weather, we'll move the party to the Cochrane Atrium. 

This event is part of our After 5 Fridays 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.

 DJ Jungle Brother will be on the spin on the Pauley Center patio, bringing a mix of hip-hop and Latin rhythms to help us finish out Hispanic Heritage Month in style! Join us in the Robins Sculpture Garden, bring a blanket or lawn chairs, and come ready to dance. Beer, wine, and snacks are available for purchase in the Best Café. In case of inclement weather, we'll move the party to the Cochrane Atrium.

This event is part of our After 5 Fridays 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. 

Bharati Khopkar and her students are ready to transport us with moves straight from a Mughal palace. You'll love engaging in the rhythmic footwork and language, expressive storytelling, and intricate gestures and spins of Kathak dancing.

Since 1997, Guru Bharati has devoted herself to nurturing the next generation of dancers. Teaching students ranging in all ages, she has created a space where discipline meets joy, and tradition meets personal expression.

This event is part of our After 5 Fridays 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. 

Join Richmond Indian Dance Academy for a fun, upbeat, and lively evening of Bollywood dance! Rooted in rich cultural tradition, Bollywood dance is a vibrant fusion of classical Indian, folk, and modern styles—blending storytelling, expressive movements, and high-energy choreography into an unforgettable experience.

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