Jamestown Settlement will exhibit the Black Artist Showcase in celebration of Black History Month and beyond, February 1 - March 29, 2026, connecting the past and present through vivid intersections of contemporary art and 17th-century history.

'Raise Your Voices: Sounds of Protest'

Throughout American history, Black Americans have used the arts to express their hopes for the future. In a 1774 letter, the enslaved poet Phillis Wheatley expressed that the principle of deliverance “...lives in us. God grant Deliverance in his own Way and Time.” In recognition of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, the Black Artist Showcase theme “Raise Your Voices: Sounds of Protest” continues Wheatley’s legacy, and contemporary Virginia artists will exhibit their perspectives through various art mediums.

The Black Artist Showcase is included with admission to Jamestown Settlement.

Black Artist Showcase opening reception

In honor of Black History Month and beyond, celebrate the opening of the 2026 Black Artist Showcase exhibit, connecting the past and present through vivid intersections of contemporary art and 17th-century history. In recognition of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, this year’s theme “Raise Your Voices: Sounds of Protest” features contemporary Virginia artists showcasing their perspectives through various art mediums.

Join us at Jamestown Settlement, January 31, 6 - 8 p.m. to celebrate the artists, enjoy a cash bar and hors d'oeuvres, along with live music. Tickets to this after-hours event are $25 per person and will be available for purchase until January 28 at 5 p.m.

^{Finding Angelo - Portrait by Austin Miles}

After Angelo

Black History Month programs culminate with “After Angelo,” a special afternoon event on February 26, 2026 named for one of the first African women named in Jamestown's historical record, celebrating modern African American life and culture through art, performance and community conversation.

'Give Me Liberty' signature exhibition

The diverse contributions of African American patriots like poet Phillis Wheatley will be on display in the upcoming VA250 signature exhibition, "Give Me Liberty: Virginia & the Forging of a Nation," opening July 1, 2026, at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown and presented in partnership with the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

Museum gallery exhibits & films

Throughout the year, Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown showcase the cultural legacies of West Central Africans in the 17th century and the American Revolution through immersive gallery exhibits, films and educational programs.