The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art gives Virginia Beach a useful indoor counterweight to the boardwalk and aquarium circuit. Its exhibitions change regularly, with a focus on contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, and installation rather than a fixed historic collection.
It is close enough to the Oceanfront to work on a cloudy morning or as a break from the sand. The museum is not huge, but that makes it easy to fold into a beach trip without losing the day. Check the current exhibition before going, since the experience depends heavily on what is on view.