International Dance Experience
2026-05-17 16:00 - 17:30 (America/New_York)
Dancers representing countries from across the globe get together to showcase their talent in this interactive and immersive dance experience. Enjoy a live DJ spinning the latest international dance tracks and learning a few new moves to celebrate diversity in our community.

Veterans Book Group
2026-05-19 19:00 - 21:00
Active service members and veterans of all eras are invited to join this free, monthly small group reading and discussion dinner series centered around books which relate to military experiences or offer a veteran’s perspective. Veterans Book Group is coordinated statewide by Maryland Humanities and presented locally in partnership with Montpelier Arts Center. Discussions are led by Dr. Karen Arnold, former poet-in-residence at the Arts Center and discussion moderator for multiple literature groups in Baltimore. Dinner and reading materials are provided. Call 301-377-7800 for more information and to register. Spaces are limited; registration is required by Jan. 6, 2026.

Ages 18 & up; FREE; registration required

Belly Dance for Fitness Month: Embrace the Rhythm of Health and Wellness
2026-05-21 13:00 - 14:30
Belly Dance for Fitness Month: Embrace the Rhythm of Health and Wellness! Join us this month to celebrate the mesmerizing art of belly dance as a powerful fitness routine. Discover the enchanting fusion of cultural expression and physical movement that tones muscles, improves flexibility, and boosts confidence. Experience the joy of dance while reaping the benefits of a full-body workout. Let music guide you on a journey towards strength, grace, and vitality. Unleash your inner dancer this Fitness Month with the ancient art of belly dancing!

Yoga & Jazz
2026-05-22 19:00 - 20:00
Breathe in, breathe out! Relax and find your center at a yoga class featuring live jazz music in Montpelier Arts Center’s Main Gallery. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat.

Melissa Burley
2026-05-23 - 2026-06-21
* This exhibition runs May 23–Jun. 21, with a public reception on Fri., Jun. 12. *

Melissa Burley combines reclaimed and found objects from the past to create illuminated sculptures that may include glass, test tubes, furniture parts, clocks, bicycle components, and resin. She sees the primary focus of her work as bringing life back into the things people once cherished and utilized, thereby communicating a strong sense of the past.

Sonic Frontiers Experimental Electronic Music Festival
2026-05-23 17:00 - 22:00
With intriguing soundscapes and dazzling visuals, Sonic Frontiers curates eclectic, improvisatory experiences with live electronic music and projection art. With a focus on community engagement, The DC Modular Collective members will host fall and spring mini-electronic music festivals at Brentwood Arts Exchange, presenting featured headliners, inviting drop-in performances, and offering hands-on education, demonstrations, and insight into this unique art form.

Success: The Beauty Among Us
2026-05-26 - 2026-07-18
* This exhibition runs May 26–Jul. 18, with a public reception on Sat., May 30. *

Success is a self-taught, mixed-media artist born in Baltimore, Maryland. Their artistic journey commenced at age eight and has steadily grown into a passionate exploration of various creative mediums. Now a new but prominent voice in contemporary art, Success has developed a diverse portfolio encompassing digital photography, photo manipulation, and acrylic paintings. Success is a graduate of Howard University. They created a bridge between local D.C. photographers and the Howard photography community by organizing lectures, workshops, and collaboration opportunities among students. Characterized by a keen ability to transform aspects of the ordinary into extraordinary narratives, Success’s work expresses complex human emotions through vivid colors, dynamic forms, and exaggerated color palettes.

The Black Art Today Foundation: Ascension: A BIPOC Exhibition
2026-05-26 - 2026-07-18
* This exhibition runs May 26–Jul. 18, with a public reception on Sat., May 30. *

Ascension is a transformation journey, a testament to the human spirit’s unwavering capacity to overcome obstacles and achieve greatness. This exhibition, featuring the works of BIPOC artists, delves into the lives of individuals who have defied limitations, challenged norms, and ultimately ascended to leave an enduring legacy. Each artwork is a visual biography, capturing the essence of the subject’s unique path toward transcendence. The exhibition explores the multifaceted nature of ascension through diverse artistic mediums, from the literal ascent of physical challenges to the metaphorical rise of social and personal triumphs.

Davey Yarborough and Esther Williams: A Beautiful Friendship
2026-05-29 20:00 - 22:00
Husband-and-wife duo Davey Yarborough and Esther Williams thrill audiences with their soulful jazz and original songwriting. Esther (vocals) has an extensive repertoire in jazz, R&B, pop, and gospel; Davey (saxophone) is an accomplished performer, bandleader, composer, arranger, and educator. They have performed together for decades and co-founded the Washington Jazz Arts Institute.

Success: The Beauty Among Us - Public Reception
2026-05-30 14:00 - 16:00

The Black Art Today Foundation: Ascension: A BIPOC Exhibition - Public Reception
2026-05-30 14:00 - 16:00

Take 6
2026-05-30 20:00 - 21:30, 2026-05-31 16:00 - 17:30
The most awarded a cappella group in history, heralded by Quincy Jones as the “Baddest vocal cats on the planet!” is the quintessential a cappella model for vocal genius. With 10 Grammy Awards, 10 Dove Awards, 2 NAACP Image Awards, a Soul Train Award, and more, Take 6 continues to bring extraordinary vocals to their worldwide audiences. From jazz to pop, adult R&B, doo wop and blues, they admirably and adeptly cross most musical genres. Like a fine-tuned vocal orchestra, the group continues pushing the boundaries of creativity and musical genius with every new release and their ever-evolving live performances.

Sat., May 30, 8 pm Tickets

Sun., May 31, 4 pm Tickets

Soul Generation featuring Cliff Perkins
2026-05-30 20:00 - 21:30
Soul Generation, out of Jersey City, New Jersey, is led by original member and founder Cliff Perkins. Known as one of the supergroups of the 1970s with chart-busting hits such as “Body and Soul,” “Million Dollars,” and “I Wonder What She’s Doin’.” Cliff Perkins’ smooth tenor voice is legendary among the singers of an era known for great lead singers. They continue to perform worldwide and are a staple on the “’70s Soul Jam Tour.”

Lunchtime Listening with Sweet Storm
2026-06-03 11:00 - 13:00
Experience the rhythm, culture, and soul of D.C.’s blues scene. Sweet Storm delivers soulful, heartfelt blues, blending traditional and contemporary styles. Stormi Weaver (vocals, guitar) and Willie Leebel (vocals, guitar) have performed together at bars, clubs, art openings, and private events for three years. Their collaboration also led to the formation of Stormi and the Blue Skies, a five-piece acoustic group. They met through the Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation and call each other music spouses. Celebrate the legacy of Archie Edwards with a powerful blues concert, honoring African American music history and the Piedmont blues tradition.

Miss Gayle’s Clean Comedy
2026-06-04 11:00 - 12:00
Hailed as bright, energetic, absolutely captivating, and outrageously funny, Miss Gayle will keep an audience in stitches. She is an explosively talented individual who lights up the stage for sold-out audiences nationwide. Since the age of six, people have demanded amusement from the comedienne, actress, and entertainer who successfully lifted their spirits. Miss Gayle can put life in perspective through her down-home humor.

Creative Entrepreneurship & Scaling Your Business
2026-06-06 13:00 - 16:00
Take your creative practice to the next level by learning business strategies, marketing, and growth techniques to expand your artistic brand and maximize success.

Art Exhibit: Rosana Azar
2026-06-08 - 2026-07-26
* This exhibition runs Jun. 8–Jul. 26, with a public reception on Thu., Jun. 18. *

Rosana is an Argentinian artist that explores Surrealism. She sees the universe as a powerful, vivid place of continual transformation, and her works attempt to capture glimpses of it. Every brushstroke, color, and shape gives insight into her heart and is a window to her soul.

This exhibit will be on display at the Publick Playhouse from June 8-July 26, 2026, and can be viewed during regular facility hours (M-F, 9 am-5 pm). Please note that exhibits cannot be viewed when a performance or event is in progress. Before viewing an exhibit, please call the Box Office at 301-277-1710 to check the performance schedule.

Basquiat
2026-06-11 19:00 - 21:00
Starring Jeffrey Wright, this film tells the story of Jean-Michel Basquiat, a young graffiti artist who skyrocketed to fame in the 1980s New York art scene. Featuring a star-studded cast, Basquiat captures the artist’s meteoric rise, his complex relationship with fame, and his artistic brilliance.

The 45th Annual Invitational Sculpture Exhibition
2026-06-12 - 2026-08-02
* This exhibition runs Jun. 12–Aug. 2, with a public reception on Fri., Jun. 12 and an artist talk/luncheon on Fri., Jun. 19. *

For 45 years, the Montpelier Arts Center has been proud to showcase the work of sculptors from throughout the region. The 45th annual Invitational Sculpture Exhibition will take place in the Main Gallery. To register for the Artist Talk/Luncheon, please email MontpelierArts@pgparks.com or call 301-377-7800 by Fri., Jun. 5, 2026.

Melissa Burley - Public Reception
2026-06-12 19:00 - 21:00

Rashid Cornish: Whispers of the Divine – A Spiritual Journey Through Nature - Public Reception
2026-06-12 19:00 - 21:00
* This exhibition runs May 9–Jun. 21, with a public reception on Fri., Jun. 12. *

Rashid Cornish explores the profound relationship between the natural world and spirituality through the delicate medium of pastel painting. The collection invites viewers to experience nature as an environment and a living, breathing entity with spiritual significance and a connection to something greater in the cosmos.

The 45th Annual Invitational Sculpture Exhibition - Public Reception
2026-06-12 19:00 - 21:00

Radiant Resistance: The Joy of Being
2026-06-15 - 2026-08-15
* This exhibition runs Jun. 15–Aug. 15, with a public reception on Sat., Jun. 20 and an artist and curator talk on Sat., Jul. 18. *

Curated by Rashad Ali Muhammad in celebration of Pride Month, Radiant Resistance: The Joy of Being is a bold tribute to queer resilience, creativity, and joy. Featuring C.S. Corbin, Chrys Seawood, Michael P. Jr., Miss Grace David, and Shyama R. Cuver, this exhibition asserts that joy is not just a byproduct of survival—it is a radical act of resistance.

Through collage, sculpture, installation, and digital media, these artists transform adversity into light, affirming that queerness is a driving force for cultural progress, innovation, and healing. Radiant Resistance is a celebration of thriving, existing, and creating unapologetically.

Artist Reception: Rosana Azar
2026-06-18 18:00 - 20:00

The 45th Annual Invitational Sculpture Exhibition - Artist Talk/Luncheon
2026-06-19 12:00 - 14:00

Radiant Resistance: The Joy of Being - Opening Reception
2026-06-20 17:00 - 20:00

Aaron Oldenburg: Night Walks
2026-06-27 - 2026-08-08
* This exhibition runs Jun. 27–Aug. 8, with a public reception on Sat., Jul. 11. *

Aaron Oldenburg creates artworks using game engines, coding languages, 2D and 3D digital art creation software, and audio sampling. This exhibition is a series of procedural software works, including interactive virtual reality, that deal with memory, climate instability, and bodily de/re-composition. Prints of screenshots taken from them accompany the works.

Visiting Resident Artist Exhibition
2026-06-27 - 2026-08-02
* This exhibition runs Jun. 27–Aug. 2, with a public reception on Sat., Jul. 11. *

This exhibition will showcase work by Montpelier Arts Center’s visiting resident artist, who has been busy all year creating one-of-a-kind pieces. The Arts Center’s one-year artist residency is a juried competition, allowing artists to join the resident artist community and conclude their residency with an exhibition.

Frida
2026-07-09 19:00 - 21:00
Salma Hayek delivers a stunning performance as Frida Kahlo, the celebrated Mexican artist known for her striking self-portraits and unfiltered storytelling. This visually rich biopic delves into Kahlo’s personal struggles, revolutionary spirit, and enduring influence on the art world.
