BRISTOL, Va.-Tenn. (Sept. 4, 2025) – The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) is bringing its celebrated traveling art exhibition, VMFA on the Road: An Artmobile for the 21st Century, to Historic Downtown Bristol this fall. From September 17–21, classrooms and the public are invited to explore the latest exhibition, Love, Laughter, Tears: An Artist’s Guide to Emotions, at no cost. The event is in partnership with the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.
This compelling and immersive exhibition showcases a wide range of works from VMFA’s permanent collection, exploring how artists across cultures and time periods have captured the depth and complexity of human emotion. From joy and love to sorrow and struggle, Love, Laughter, Tears: An Artist’s Guide to Emotions invites visitors to reflect on the universal feelings that connect us all.
“We are thrilled to welcome VMFA on the Road back to Bristol,” said Museum Director Dr. Rene Rodgers. “This is a great free opportunity to have a world-class gallery experience for both schools and drop-in visitors. Educators can contact us for a tour with your students, which can also include a free visit to our current special exhibit, Ellen Elmes: The Art of Music & Mountains.”
Housed in a state-of-the-art, climate-controlled mobile museum, VMFA on the Road offers a free and accessible art experience for all ages. Guided tours and educational resources will be available throughout the week, making it an excellent field trip opportunity for schools and community groups.
Exhibition Details:
For school visits:
- Wednesday, Sept. 17 – Thursday, Sept. 18
For drop-in visitors and Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion festival goers:
- Wednesday, Sept. 17 – Thursday, Sept. 18 (when not booked by a student group; interested visitors can see the schedule on our website)
- Friday, Sept. 19 – Sunday, Sept. 21
Location: Cumberland Square Park parking lot, across from Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Admission: FREE and open to the public
The VMFA on the Road initiative is part of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ commitment to sharing art and culture with communities across the Commonwealth.
For more information about the VMFA on the Road Artmobile experience for your students and to book a tour, please contact Hollie Moody at hmoody@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org, providing the following information: Date of tour, preferred time of tour, name of school, teacher’s name, grade level, and size of group. The deadline for bookings is Sept. 12. For more details, visit the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.