If you haven’t seen the Ruth E. Carter exhibition at the African American Museum in Philadelphia yet, this weekend is your last chance. The show — which has been on view since November 2025 — closes Sunday, September 6, and the museum is marking the occasion with two special events.
On Saturday, September 5, families can drop into a “Kids Juice Joint,” an interactive program drawing on the history of the juke joint, a communal gathering space central to the film Sinners. Kids will explore blues, jazz, and gospel through hands-on musical activities tied to the traditions Carter brought to life through her costume work.
That same evening, AAMP hosts “Sinners, Sounds & Style,” an after-hours experience open free to museum members. Guests will move through Carter’s iconic costume designs accompanied by music and refreshments inspired by the spirit of Sinners and juke joint culture.
A landmark stop for the traveling exhibition
The AAMP presentation was notable for a specific reason: it marked the first time costumes from the Academy Award-winning film Sinners were included as part of the traveling exhibition. Carter, a two-time Academy Award winner, has spent decades shaping how Black culture and identity are represented on screen — and the exhibition traces that career across film, fashion, and storytelling in an immersive format.
Founded in 1976 as the first municipally funded institution dedicated to preserving African American heritage, AAMP is located at 701 Arch St. and is open Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission tickets and full programming details are available at the AAMP official website.
