The Dirty South Weekend

Three days of performance and conversation celebrating a century of southern Black culture.

Immerse yourself in the sounds and stories of The Dirty South: Contemporary Art, Material Culture, and the Sonic Impulse with three days of performance, conversation, and celebration.

Enjoy free exhibition admission all weekend.

For one weekend only, we’re bringing together hip-hop artists, poets, scholars, and more for a multi-day event designed to explore the themes of The Dirty South like never before. From live music and performances to artistic insights and behind-the-scenes stories, you’ll experience with your whole self just what The Dirty South is all about. And, to help you do just that, we’re offering free admission to the exhibition all weekend long.

So come celebrate with us, and dive into the aesthetics, legacy, power, and complexity of the African American South. We hope to see you there.

The weekend may be over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t join us! Check out recordings of the weekend talks and events below.

Hip hop super-duo Run the Jewels (featuring rapper and producer El-P and rapper Killer Mike) and Grammy award-winning artist Big Boi take the stage at the Momentary.

8pm (Doors open at 7 pm)

Exhibition Sponsors

The Dirty South is organized by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts: Valerie Cassel Oliver, VMFA’s Sydney and Frances Lewis Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art.

The Dirty South is sponsored at Crystal Bridges by Harrison and Rhonda French Family | Ramsay, Jaquita, and Sarah Ball | Catherine and Stephan Roche | Esther Silver-Parker | Deborah Wright.

This project is supported in part by a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

10th Anniversary Exhibition Season Sponsors