Whether you’re an art enthusiast or love discovering new exhibits and creative spaces, Virginia Beach hosts an impressive roster of venues and events that will surely inspire the artist in us all. Read on for its inspiring, diverse and creative arts and culture line-up.
MURALS GALORE, TOURS AND SKETCHING
The ViBe Creative District is home to a treasure trove of art galleries, murals, restaurants, and artisan shops. Watch the walls come alive during ViBe’s annual Mural Fest, taking place August 20-29. Witness ten new murals live painted by 10 different national and local artists at private properties throughout the district. Art lovers can explore the newly created murals or those permanently on display in the district at their own pace any time of year with a self-guided mural tour or participate in ViBe’s free First Friday or Second Saturday Mural Tours.
MUSEUMS AND MORE
The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, or MOCA, one of Virginia Beach’s most renowned art institutions, is gearing up for an exciting line-up kicking off this summer and running through Spring 2022:
- Through October 24, 2021, a Summer of Women exhibit highlights the original work of women-identifying artists from the local area, region and the nation.
- The 65th Annual Boardwalk Art Show takes place from October 22 – 24. The beloved outdoor festival is host to nearly 300 artisans showcasing their original work in a wide variety of mediums.
- Looking ahead to next year, Maya Lin, the renowned artist, designer and environmentalist will debut a solo exhibition from April to September 2022. Maya Lin: Ways of Water will feature existing work from Lin’s archive, including some neverbefore-exhibited sculptures and prints and as well as two new site-responsive installations. For the exhibit, Lin will consider environmental concerns specific to the region and utilize materials connected to the destination’s land and waterways.
Explore the imaginative exhibits of Lost Planet, an immersive new museum of gallery spaces designed to engage visitors with wild designs and illusions. Find your way through the laser hall, escape the grip of a giant gorilla, fall into a foam pit or run through a bungee maze –and be sure to post pictures of your experience.
ARTS IN THE OPEN AIR
The sand castles you built as a kid would never cut it in the International Sand Sculpting Championship held in conjunction with the city’s beloved annual Neptune Festival each September. Sand sculptors from around the world carve intricate designs along the Virginia Beach oceanfront that remain on display for ten days. Tour King Neptune’s Land of Sand gallery featuring nearly two dozen masterful creations by solo and doubles team sculptors all competing for the nation’s largest cash prize. Free sand clinics can help amateur sculptors learn tricks of the trade from a master.
The famed Virginia Beach Boardwalk bursts with creativity as it’s transformed into a colorful concrete canvas during Chalk the Walk in July. Artists create original chalk works based on a collective theme in four by four-foot square sections and compete for prizes in amateur, professional and youth divisions.
To plan your Virginia Beach arts and culture itinerary, visit www.visitvirginiabeach.com for information on events, accommodations and more.
About Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, one of Virginia’s most populous cities, resides where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. The city is home to 35 miles of sandy beaches, a flourishing culinary and craft beer scene, rich history, a variety of arts and entertainment and family-friendly attractions that keep visitors entertained year-round. For more Virginia Beach information, including new attractions and experiences, or to plan your next trip, visit www.visitvirginiabeach.com.
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