Events

Celebrate Black History Month with Montpelier Arts Center! This annual exhibition shows the diverse talents of regional artists. Featured artwork will highlight African Americans’ lives, stories, and experiences through painting, drawing, photography, and more.

Visit the museum to celebrate the opening of the museum’s newest exhibition, Columbia Air Center – Determined to Fly! Discover the untold story of Columbia Air Center, the nation’s first licensed Black-owned airport. Through vivid storytelling, holograms, and digital interactives, explore this overlooked chapter in Maryland’s aviation history. Included with museum admission.

Join us for a two-part book discussion and film screening featuring Percival Everett’s satirical 2001 novel Erasure and its 2023 film adaptation, the Best Picture-nominated dark comedy American Fiction, starring Jeffrey Wright. The book and film examine (and skewer) the use of Black stereotypes in fiction and the anti-Black stance of the publishing industry.

Celebrate Black History Month with the soulful fusion of Memphis blues, New York fire, and D.C. flavor with the Muneer Nasser Quintet. A master trumpeter, composer, and jazz historian, Nasser brings his deep-rooted passion for jazz to the stage. His latest album, Blue House Session, is a vibrant mix of blues, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and timeless jazz energy. Celebrate Black History Month with an electrifying performance that honors the past while igniting the future of jazz. Don’t miss this unforgettable afternoon of music. Celebrate history. Experience the music.

Celebrate Black History Month with an unforgettable music matinee featuring award-winning saxophonist Brent Birckhead and his sextet. Hailed by The New York Times as “one of the most riveting young improvisers in New York,” Birckhead blends tradition and innovation, drawing from jazz, soul, and activism. A Howard University alumnus, he has performed with legends like Lauryn Hill, Nas, and George Duke. Experience his powerful sound and storytelling, showcasing the depth of African American musical heritage. Don’t miss this special tribute—an afternoon of history, culture, and soul-stirring jazz!

“Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin assembled a choir at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles, in 1972 to record her live album, Amazing Grace. Footage of this remarkable gospel concert was shelved for decades over technical and legal issues; it was finally edited and released to critical acclaim in 2018. This is a must-see documentary for Aretha Franklin fans.

Join us for a two-part book discussion and film screening featuring Percival Everett’s satirical 2001 novel Erasure and its 2023 film adaptation, the Best Picture-nominated dark comedy American Fiction, starring Jeffrey Wright. The book and film examine (and skewer) the use of Black stereotypes in fiction and the anti-Black stance of the publishing industry.