Delta Blues Museum Unveils New Permanent Exhibit

Delta Blues Museum will host an artist reception, book signing, and Q&A with Scott Cawood October 03, 2024 during the unveiling of the new permanent exhibit "Portraits in Steel". Live music to be performed by Anthony "Big A" Sherrod. Press Release Current Exhibits

Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival

- August, 2025

Almost as old as the Museum, the Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival is held at the start of every August right here in Clarksdale. This festival is so legendary, the Museum has it's own special exhibit area dedicated to the Sunflower Festival as well as a Sunflower Festival Chronology on the Museum's website. For more information about the festival, please visit: www.sunflowerfest.org

Delta Blues Museum to Host Military Families as a Blue Star Museum

Delta Blues Museum regularly participates in the Blue Star Museum program, benefitting active duty military and their families. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at the start of the annual program. Reserve your tickets

Delta Blues Museum Receives MAC Grant

Delta Blues Museum is the recipient of a $23,400 grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC). This grant is a portion of the more than $1.7 million in grants MAC awarded in Fiscal Year 2025 and will be used to support Museum operations over the course of the two-year grant period. Press Release

Delta Blues Museum Receives "Building Fund for the Arts" Grant

Delta Blues Museum's freight depot facility will see some upgrades this year, thanks to a $120,000 grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC). The funding opportunity provided through the BFA grant supports the much-needed repair, renovation, expansion, or construction of Mississippi facilities that serve as sites for year-round arts programming in their communities. Press Release

60 Minutes - Blues revival in Mississippi Delta brings "Kingfish" to music scene

60 MINUTES visits the blues mecca of Clarksdale, Mississippi, during Juke Joint Festival plus spends some quality time with hometown blues hero Christone "Kingfish" Ingram. Watch Here

From Hand to Hand: Passing Down the Blues Panel Discussion

DMI instructor at Delta State University and a past graduate of the Delta Blues Museum Arts and Education program, Travis Calvin will moderate over a panel featuring recent graduates Jaxx Nassar, "Big A" Sherrod, and Lee Williams. Watch Here

Delta Blues Museum Receives $24,000 MAC Grant

Delta Blues Museum awarded $24,000 two-year operating grant from Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) for fiscal year 2024 to help with educational programs and special exhibits for the museum's 45th anniversary. Director Shelley Ritter said these funds are vital to the Museum as it approaches a milestone year. Read More

Delta Blues Museum Announces New Virtual Tours Through Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area Grant

Delta Blues Museum continues to expand its Virtual Tours, thanks to a $20,000 grant received from the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area (MDNHA). Press Release

Keeping the Beat - April

Delta Blues Museum
Kicking off Muddy Waters month at the museum with new virtual tours and gift shop merchandise. Plan your trip to Clarksdale for the Juke Joint Festival, and learn about other museum related items in this issue of Keeping the Beat. Read More

DELTA BLUES MUSEUM HIGHLIGHTS
Exhibits, Events and More!

Delta Regional Authority 2023 Fellows Program

Museum Director Shelley Ritter and board member Dr. Mary A. Williams have both been named as fellows of the 2023 Delta Leadership Institute (DLI) Executive Academy.

DLI is an extensive, nine-month executive leadership program that brings together public, private, and nonprofit sector leaders from the Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt.

Read Newsletter Excerpt

Delta Blues Museum Awarded MDNHA Funding for New Virtual Tours

Delta Blues Museum will soon expand its Virtual Tours, thanks to funding received from the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area (MDNHA). The newest online video feature will focus on Blues legend Robert Johnson, as the Museum looks to create additional web-based content chronicling other important "anchor artists" of Blues music. Read More

Trumpet Records Exhibit

We hope you were able to join us at our opening reception for the newly added traveling exhibit featuring the story of Trumpet Records and Lillian McMurry. Music was performed during the reception by Libby Rae Watson. If you were unable to attend the event, stop by the museum for a tour, before this exhibit starts "traveling".
We can't wait to see you! View Press Release

Museum Field Trips, Tours & More

The Museum was busy during 2021 creating Video Field Trips & Tours to further expand knowledge, preserve blues history and for your enjoyment. These videos feature different blues musicians and their experiences with various blues artists, as well as expanding upon our Explore & Learn series programs. Meanwhile, Clarksdale's very own Christone "Kingfish" Ingram has filmed a shout-out supporting the blues music genre. Watch Kingfish's Video

Museum Highlights & News

MUSEUM Fall/Winter HOURS

The Delta Blues Museum will observe Fall/Winter Hours and be open Monday through Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm. These hours are subject to change.

Museum Holiday Observances

The Delta Blues Museum will be closed in observance of the following holidays: New Years, Martin Luther King Jr Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Delta Blues Museum Infectious Disease/Pandemic Policy

The Delta Blues Museum is committed to the health and safety of all our guests, staff, students and volunteers. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have reinforced our public health practices and policies. Read More