Walmart Joins as Presenting Sponsor for A Seat at The Table Arts & Culture Experience hosted by The Urban League of Hampton Roads and the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art

A Seat at the Table Experience is an official SOMETHING IN THE WATER Community Event and features an Arts & Culture Panel Conversation and Highlights Emerging talent

Virginia Beach, VA – Walmart joins as Presenting Sponsor for A Seat at the Table Arts & Culture Experience hosted by The Urban League of Hampton Roads (ULHR) and Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (VMOCA) on April 27 at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art located at 2200 Parks Avenue Virginia Beach, VA 23451, from 6pm-11pm. Sanctioned as a SOMETHING IN THE WATER Music Festival (SITW) Community Event, A Seat at the Table highlights emerging and nationally renowned Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) artists, talented musicians, and designers from various disciplines and includes a panel conversation about the importance of supporting BIPOC arts and culture featuring prominent tastemakers and creators from Hampton Roads.

Presented by Walmart, the event will feature VMOCA’s Spring exhibitions from international artists, Kara Walker and LaToya M. Hobbs and artists in residence, such as Amber Pierce, Poetry Jackson and Nadd Harvin, alongside (4) regional artists selected by ULHR: Ashley Raeneil, Chris Green, Loscar Creations, and QRCKY. Live music will be provided by DJ JOFROXI, FORTRESSES, and Fake Uzumi, hosted by Q5. Panelists include Gary Ryan, Director of the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Tamara Wellons, President of The Recording Academy Washington, DC Chapter, Asa Jackson, Director, Contemporary Arts Network, and moderator, Stephanie Walters, Director of Engagement & Communications at Team YELLOW, among others.

“We are excited to work with important community organizations like the Urban League of Hampton Roads and Virginia Museum of Contemporary Arts to engage the community-at-large for a weekend of events in celebration of the return of SOMETHING IN THE WATER Music Festival,” said Robby Wells, an Executive Producer of SOMETHING IN THE WATER. “Both organizations quickly rose to challenge to create meaningful programming that adds essential community- centric dimensions to the festival. A Seat at the Table reflects the shared values and mission to uplift and invest in the talents of Black and minority artists, entrepreneurs, and community.”

“We are humbled by the support from Walmart and endorsement from SOMETHING IN THE WATER Music Festival for A Seat at the Table Arts & Culture Experience as a sanctioned community event,” said Gil Bland, President & Chief Executive Officer for The Urban League of Hampton Roads. “We are thrilled to share this platform with our community partner, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art to utilize our platforms to increase awareness of the extraordinary talent that our region continues to produce, as well as the vital need to invest in emerging Black artists and entrepreneurs.”

General Admission and VIP tickets are available for purchase for A Seat at the Table at https://ulhr.org/seatatthetable/. All ticket donations are non-refundable, and proceeds will support the mission, programs, and services provided by the Urban League of Hampton Roads. Food Trucks for the event include Avocargo, Large Brothers Catering and more.

“Virginia MOCA just opened our spring exhibitions featuring the work of Kara Walker and LaToya M. Hobbs to record attendance and are honored to be working with the Urban League to further amplify the work of Black and other minority artists in our community. Virginia MOCA presents locally relevant, nationally resonant contemporary art that is exceptional, and A Seat at the Table certainly manifests this commitment,” said Gary Ryan, Virginia MOCA Director & CEO.

About the Urban League of Hampton Roads

The mission of the Urban League of Hampton Roads, Inc. (ULHR) is to enable African Americans and others to secure economic self-reliance, parity and power and civil rights. The ULHR implements its mission by providing services and programs in education, employment, health, and housing to Hampton Roads communities through direct services, advocacy, research, policy analysis, community mobilization and collaboration throughout communities.

The Urban League of Hampton Roads, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and contributions are tax-deductible as defined by the Internal Revenue Code. EIN 54-1083985.

About Virginia MOCA

Located in the Virginia Beach ViBe creative district, The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art is an accredited, non-collecting museum that presents ever-changing exhibitions where neighbors, strangers, students, families, communities, and cultures are invited to explore our shared humanity, through locally relevant and nationally resonant, contemporary art that’s exceptional.