Artspace

New call for art❗️

💭 All American: Contemporary Perspectives from HBCU Artists
Deadline to apply: July 10, 11:59pm
Exhibition dates: August 6 - September 20, 2026.
Learn more: https://buff.ly/0qmcK4q

If you are a current HBCU student or HBCU alum, this is a great opportunity to show your work in a professional exhibition in Downtown Raleigh! Submit up to 3 works for consideration. No entry fee.

All American: Contemporary Perspectives from HBCU Artists is a group exhibition celebrating current and former students connected to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This exhibition brings together perspectives across generations, exploring identity, culture, community, and the many ways HBCUs shape artistic practice, creative expression, and lived experience.

This exhibition will be juried by Alexandra Jane (Artist Programs Manager), Lamar Whidbee (2026 HBCU Artist in Residence), and Jonh Blanco (Creative Director).

Meet our summer interns! We are thrilled to have 3 interns this summer, helping us work on new projects and building their skills in arts management!

Summer Art Program Intern: Erica McRay
Erica McRay is a versatile visual artist, entrepreneur, and content creator based in Raleigh, NC, currently entering her senior year at William Peace University. As a professional with a multifaceted background in graphic design, video editing, visual arts, and business management, Erica brings a tech-savvy and highly organized approach to arts administration. Her commitment to academic and creative excellence is further evidenced by her selection to present at the National Council on Undergraduate Research (NCUR). She is dedicated to fostering an environment where art is celebrated as an essential part of a healthy community and is eager to support the next generation of creatives through the 2026 Summer Art Program.

IDEAL Intern (made possible by United Arts Wake County): Judy Lee
Born and raised in North Carolina, Judy Lee is a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Arts with a minor in Interdisciplinary and Social Practice. With a background in graphic design, digital media, and visual storytelling, Judy has worked across community arts organizations, creative projects, and artist-centered initiatives. She is passionate about using design and arts administration to connect emerging and underrepresented creatives with the resources, opportunities, and visibility they need to thrive. As a 2026 IDEAL Intern with Artspace, Judy is excited to deepen her experience in artist services and professional development while contributing to a more accessible and supportive creative ecosystem for artists throughout North Carolina.

NPIP Intern (through the N.C. Network of Grantmakers, made possible by A.J. Fletcher Foundation): Zion Ackee
Originating from Little Rock, Arkansas, Zion Ackee is currently a senior at North Carolina State University in the College of Communications. As a Communications major, Zion prioritizes building connections with new people and bringing her friendly disposition wherever she goes. At Artspace, she draws on her love of art and appreciation of culture to shape her work in the Marketing Department. When she’s not capturing the perfect angle in the office and ensuring the lighting is just right, you can still find her working behind the camera. In her personal time, Zion is either flipping through fashion magazines and planning her latest photoshoot or researching her next travel destination.

Sponsorships are now available for Art Bash 2026!

Coming November 14, Art Bash is Artspace's biggest fundraiser of the year!

This year, Art Bash: Tomorrow, Imagined, will be a celebration of forty years of artistic risk-taking, community building, and cultural impact at Artspace. This spectacular night out will feature gallery exhibitions, a live art bid, gourmet bites, art experiences, and more. Our theme, Tomorrow, Imagined, invites you to visually and experientially reflect on the past to envision the future.

Nearly 400 people attend Art Bash each year, including artists, collectors, business owners, community leaders, and young professionals!

Our sponsors are essential to making the magic of Art Bash and our year-round work possible. All sponsors will receive logo recognition on printed and digital materials, complimentary event tickets, and access to the VIP hour of the Bash.

Become a sponsor today! https://buff.ly/7DmwO1U

Come to First Friday (5-10pm) to meet the artists behind "Where We Work Now"!

"Where We Work Now" is a group exhibition marking a transitional moment in the careers of North Carolina artists who previously held studio space at Artspace. The exhibition honors work developed during their time here while recognizing that artistic practices continue to evolve across home studios, shared workspaces, temporary sites, and shifting conditions of access and support.

We are proud to feature six artists in this exhibition: Jane Cheek, Adam D. Cohen, Alexandre Emmanuel, Erin Ives, Jackie Sanders, and Debbie Secan. June marks their last month at Artspace before they move their practices to new locations and embark on new adventures.

Don't miss First Friday today and see the studios of these six (and 20+ other) artists! https://buff.ly/8njZ4jg

Jane Cheek - Artist Adam D. Cohen Art J Sanders Studio Debbie Secan Studio Artist

Looking for a team bonding activity? Engage your creative side with Artspace's Creative Team Building program!

Our Education + Community Engagement team has designed a team-building curriculum for communication, trust, creativity, and mindfulness, utilizing artistic activities that require no prior art skill or experience!

Learn more and request a date here: https://buff.ly/1GubEDm

This weekend is your last chance to fill out our community survey!
You can find the link to the survey here: https://buff.ly/eMcs4tQ

We release this survey every spring to guide our work for the following year, ensuring that we are meeting our community's needs and wants.

No matter how long you've been connected to Artspace, we want to hear from you. Take 5 minutes to complete the anonymous survey, and you'll be helping to shape our future!

We are deeply saddened to hear of the recent passing of Ann Keith Tharrington, former Executive Director of Artspace. Ann was a key player in our history, working tirelessly with Raleigh's City Council and Arts Commission in the early days of Artspace's transformation, as well as building up Artspace's Summer Art Program, which has continued for 36 years since.

Ann was a champion of nonprofits and the arts, and she will be dearly missed. We send our love to her family and everyone who once knew her. 🤍https://buff.ly/hcySWfu

Two weeks ago, our Education and Community Programs team partnered with PostScript Outreach and led a watercolor painting activity with the residents of Sir Walter Apartments.

Danny Peña, Director of Education + Community Programs said, “Our recent AOTG visit to Sir Walter Apartments was filled with beautiful moments of joy and conversation, as neighbors were able to connect through art alongside one another. Led by our very own artist in residence, Adrianne Huang, this community was able to tap into their creative self-expression and create one-of-a-kind paintings that centered around memory, home, comfort, and the small moments that connect us all.”

This was all part of our community initiative: Artspace on the Go, a mobile art van that tackles inequity in arts access head-on by providing free, artist-led, high-quality art education experiences.

Visit https://buff.ly/FIrHQKX to learn more.

📸: Sanjé James