EVENTS
Community Day Presented in Partnership with Virginia Humanities¬
COMMUNITY DAY PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VIRGINIA HUMANITIES
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Free; registration encouraged.
10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Join us as we open our doors and welcome the community into our new home. This Museum-wide celebration invites visitors of all ages to experience our inaugural exhibitions, Nina Chanel Abney: The Pursuit of Happiness and Seamless: Art and Design, while exploring the Museum’s new spaces and gathering places.
Spend the day discovering the galleries and enjoying hands-on art-making, live performances, artist demonstrations, community resources, and local food vendors.
FOOD & TRANSPORTATION
The first 200 guests to arrive will receive a food voucher to be used toward food truck purchases. We are also offering a limited number of Uber Ride vouchers worth up to $30 to get you to and from the event. Claim your ride voucher here.
Food and Beverage | Welcome Plaza
Pie Society Pizza Company
Cas’ Kitchen on Wheels
Bear Coffee
Water and soda may also be purchased indoors at the Virginia MOCA bar.
ALL-DAY EXPERIENCES
Interactive Artist Demonstrations | Lawn & Atrium
Enjoy live demonstrations across a variety of artistic media and engage directly with artists as they share their materials and creative processes in real time.
Featuring: Kim Higgins (carpentry), Isabel Monell (painting), Matt Zitman (caricature drawing), Heidi Joy Delacruz (cardboard sculpture), Phil Guilfoyle (ceramics), Dwayne Hopkins (rug tufting)
UHAUL Art MOVES US Galleries | Welcome Plaza
Explore mobile art galleries housed in the backs of moving trucks, showcasing work from community art collectives. Artwork on display will be available for purchase, so you can discover and collect original works of art.
Featuring: Contemporary Arts Network, Utopia Feni, 757 Create, VIBE Creative District: Virginia Beach Art Center & The Creative Well Arts Foundation
Community Partners | Atrium
Connect with local organizations through resources and activities.
Participating organizations: Virginia Beach Public Library, YWCA, Virginia Humanities, WHRO, Virginia Arts Festival, I See You Bro, African American Sewcial Threaders Quilt Guild of Southeastern Virginia, LGBT Life Center, Hampton University Museum, VWU Center for Neurodiversity and Career Development
Market by Black BRAND | Lawn
Black BRAND, the Regional Black Chamber of Commerce for Hampton Roads, presents a curated marketplace featuring businesses focused on wellness and design. Shop and support local!
Photo Op | Welcome Plaza
Join members of Generation MOCA, the Museum’s young leaders advisory council, at an interactive outdoor sculpture by artist Hank Willis Thomas. Create your own sign, express yourself, and strike a pose for a photo on a bench shaped like a thought bubble!
Open Studios | Second Floor
Sensory Space (Studio 3)
A calming, low-stimulation environment for all ages with soft seating, dim lighting, artmaking, and sensory tools for rest and regulation.
All Ages Artmaking (Studio 2)
Try your hand at surface design in this all-ages, hands-on activity.
Pre-K Art Exploration (Studio 4)
Designed for ages 2–5 and their families, featuring painting, weaving, and sculpture-building activities.
SCHEDULED PERFORMANCES
10:00–10:30 AM | Lawn Stage
Shark City Drum & Dance Corps
Led by Frederick Dixon, Shark City Drum & Dance Corps is an award-winning youth ensemble that blends drumming, dance, and dynamic visual performance. Rooted in mentorship and community engagement, the group empowers young performers through discipline, creativity, and teamwork.
11:00 AM–1:00 PM | Lawn Stage
SynHERgi
SynHERgi is an all-women band delivering a high-energy set that blends crowd-favorite hits across genres. Known for their dynamic stage presence and tight musicianship, they keep audiences engaged with an upbeat mix of familiar songs and feel-good performances.
1:30–2:00 PM | Lawn Stage
The Gregory Brothers
Join The Gregory Brothers Trio for a performance of songs that tell stories of Black history. Hailing from the historic Seatack community in Virginia Beach, The Gregory Brothers have been performing together for more than 50 years.
2:30–3:00 PM | Lawn Stage
Marlin Gems Dance Team
The Marlin Gems are a student-led dance team at Virginia Wesleyan University, bringing together performers who share a passion for dance. Their program features solo, duet, and group pieces across styles including contemporary, hip hop, jazz, and majorette, all delivered in an energetic, engaging performance set to upbeat music.
3:15–3:45 PM | Lawn Stage
TGA Voices of Praise
TGA Voices of Praise is the choir of The Great Awakening United Church of Christ in Portsmouth, an inclusive and openly LGBTQIA+-affirming congregation. A proud partner in the Hampton Roads Pride community, the choir shares uplifting gospel music centered on joy, unity, and belonging.
SCHEDULED WORKSHOPS | STUDIO 1
11:00–11:45 AM
Expressive Arts
Learn about community initiatives supporting vulnerable populations, then participate in a hands-on artmaking experience with The Norfolk Street Choir Project Expressive Art Collaboration with the Counseling and Art Therapy program at ODU. This workshop reflects creative sessions offered weekly to the unhoused community.
12:00–12:45 PM
Improv for Everyone
Join VWU Theatre Professor Sally Shedd and students for interactive theatre and improvisation games. No experience necessary—just come ready to play, connect, and explore creativity in a supportive environment.
Space is limited. All ages welcome.
1:00–1:45 PM
Building Belonging
Engage in a guided conversation with the LGBT Life Center about identity, belonging, and creating supportive communities. Participants will leave with strategies and inspiration to help foster inclusive spaces.
Space is limited. Ages 14+.
2:15–3:00 PM
Bridging Differences
Explore strategies for communicating across lines of difference with the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. This guided discussion offers practical tools and resources to strengthen understanding and connection.
Space is limited. All ages welcome.
3:15–4:00 PM
Creative Practice
Contemporary Arts Network resident artists Rain Spann and MarieAnn “Flower” Fluker lead a conversation on collaboration, creative practice, and sustaining a life in the arts, with an interactive component for participants.
Space is limited. All ages welcome.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Community Day is proudly presented in partnership with Virginia Humanities and sponsored by Dominion Energy, Cox Communications, Sinclair Communications, Wegmans. We thank them for their generous support.
ABOUT VIRGINIA HUMANITIES
Virginia Humanities is the state humanities council, dedicated to sharing the stories of all Virginians and creating opportunities for people to share their own. Through its work, Virginia Humanities connects communities with their history and culture, fostering greater understanding across the Commonwealth. Founded in 1974, it is one of 56 humanities councils supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Learn more at VirginiaHumanities.org.