Wildlife and nature

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Theater and dance

Rivers, parks and trails

Hunger and food

Schools and learning

Housing and homelessness

Community health

Mental health

Mentoring and foster care

Legal help and rights

Jobs and money help

Atlanta

The Triangle

Everywhere

The Collective Workshop

Royal Animal Refuge

Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta

Georgia Advancing Communities Together

Atlanta Writers Club

Cobb Collaborative

Bosleys Place

Jewish Fertility Foundation

At the North Carolina Museum of Art, we embrace the transformative power of the arts. Belonging to the citizens of North Carolina, the People’s Collection presents more than 5,000 years of art and culture, sparking inquiry and imagination. Among the site-specific works located throughout the 164-acre Museum Park, art and nature meet, resulting in moments of discovery. Both are free to explore.
We invite you to learn more about our history, all that inspires us in the present, and the principles guiding our future.
The North Carolina Museum of Art activates the collective power of the arts, nature, and people to foster creativity, curiosity, and connection, serving as a model museum that nurtures lifelong learning and deepens multicultural understanding.
To be a vital cultural resource for the entire state and a national leader in creating a welcoming experience of belonging and joy.
The NCMA’s five-year strategic plan defines the core values that inform all decisions and outlines actionable institutional goals.
The story of the NCMA spans over 100 years, speaking to the Museum’s enduring role in the ever-flourishing cultural landscape of North Carolina.
Access an abundance of helpful information and resources ahead of your next Museum outing.
Published annually, the impact report highlights programming, exhibitions, and initiatives, detailing how the NCMA serves communities within and beyond the state.

Public Tour

Sculpture Meditation with Meg Stein

Jewish Film Series: Hester Street

Isidore String Quartet

Art on the Dot

A Celebration of Diwali

Give

Excavating Treasures of the Nile at the NCMA

The North Carolina Museum of Art Announces Opening of Jane B. Preyer Preserve in the Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park

The North Carolina Museum of Art Announces Its Fall 2026 Exhibition Schedule

The Martinezes as Artists and Subjects

Knowing the West at the NCMA

The North Carolina Museum of Art Announces 12 New Acquisitions

The North Carolina Museum of Art Announces “Knowing the West”

Star Signs in the People’s Collection: Air Signs

Why We Love Our Members (and Why They Love the NCMA)

Star Signs in the People’s Collection: Earth Signs

Caroline Rocheleau

Planning to visit Ancient Nubia: Excavating Treasures of the Nile? Make sure to use our free audio exhibition tour on the NCMA website while you immerse yourself in the Kingdom of Kush. The tour was narrated by four members of our Teen Arts Council (who did a fantastic job) and can be accessed at any time - take a guided audio tour of the exhibition while you're there or listen at home to learn about the objects on view. Click the link in our bio to access the tour!

Visit "Ancient Nubia: Excavating Treasures of the Nile" and become an archaeologist for the day at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Get your tickets at the link in our bio.

Our galleries contain works spanning 5,000 years of art and culture, and our campus includes a 164-acre Museum Park with more than 25 outdoor artworks and access to nature. The price of admission? Free. We are one of 19 museums in the US nominated for @Reviewed's Readers' Choice Awards "Best Free Museums of 2027" contest! Voting is open now through December 2, and you can vote once per day. See the full list and vote for us (if you want to🥺) at the link in our bio. ---- Pictured: Claude Monet, The Seine at Giverny, Morning Mists, 1897, Oil on canvas, 35 x 36 in., Purchased with funds from the Sarah Graham Kenan Foundation and the North Carolina State Art Society (Robert F. Phifer Bequest)

Love trivia? Want to test your knowledge of Ancient Nubia? Then join Nubiologist and Curator of Ancient Collections Dr. Caroline Rocheleau for brews and trivia at @TrophyMaywood at 7 pm on Friday, November 6! The trivia is free, and food and drinks are available for purchase. No pre-registration required. ---- Pictured: Nubian artist, Sudan, Shawabty of King Taharqa, 690–664 BCE, green magnesite–containing rock, H. 20 1/16 × W. 6 3/4 in., Harvard University—Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition, 20.227; Photo: © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Have you seen the large wall drawing with markings and constellation diagrams in East Building? Covering nearly the entire wall, the piece features a deep blue color that brings life into the space. Titled "South / North," this newly commissioned work was created by Ronny Quevedo. Learn more about @ronny.q's background and inspirations for this work on the NCMA Blog (link in bio). And don't miss your chance to meet the artist and hear him discuss South / North at Thursday's After Hours! ---- Ronny Quevedo, South / North, 2026, wax screen-printing ink, mica, and dressmaker wax paper on polyester filament fabric mounted on board, H. 219 x W. 234 in., Courtesy of the artist, Commissioned by the North Carolina Museum of Art

We are thrilled that artist @nancybakercahill will be joining us at the NCMA Thursday-Saturday to participate in a variety of free activities and programs related to her exhibition, "Ecologies of Scale." Thursday: Leading a tour of "Ecologies of Scale" during After Hours. Friday: Leading a noon talk, "Perceiving Otherwise: Ecological Imagination and Experiential Practice in Polycrisis." Hosting "Digital Explorations in Art," an interactive workshop for college students, in the Museum Park at 2:30 pm. Saturday: Get hands-on during a pop-up art session with artist Nancy Baker Cahill in the Museum Park beginning at noon. All programs are free, but please register for After Hours, Perceiving Otherwise, and Digital Explorations in Art. Visit our Events Calendar (link in bio) for free tickets and more information. ---- Pictured: Nancy Baker Cahill, Carbon 2, 2025, digital animation still, dimensions variable, Courtesy of Nancy Baker Cahill

Today is Election Day - and what's more American than a bald eagle? Polls across North Carolina are open until 7:30 pm! Find your polling place and other voting information on the @ncstateboardofelections website (linked in our bio). --- Pictured: John James Audubon, The Birds of America, Plate #31: "White-headed Eagle," 1827-1838, Hand-colored engraving and aquatint on paper, 40 x 26 in., Transfer from the Library of North Carolina

Oh, hey, look who showed up during the @canes broadcast yesterday🏒 🥅 ⛸️ It's fitting that they showed Gyre (three zeroes, if you think about it), considering the @nhljets put up zeroes in all three periods😅

It's Meet the Museum Monday, and we've got another fun one today! Watch our interview with Marketing Copywriter Leah Tran to find out who she would switch lives with for a day, what she always collects at museums, and her three pet peeves (one of them I've never heard anyone say).

Join us for our next "What's in the Box?" program on Wednesday, November 4, and spend the morning exploring autumn's beauty with your little one at the NCMA. Enjoy our giant sensory bin (the Museum Park) by crunching leaves, discovering their colors, and preserving them in artwork you create together! Find more information and tickets at the link in our bio.

We usually have employees dress up as artworks from the People's Collection for our annual Halloween social media post. This year, we presented our Teen Arts Council with the opportunity to use the Collection as inspiration for their own Halloween photoshoot. Check out the video to see which works they chose (and look for Erin, our Manager of Teen and College Programs!)... Happy Halloween! 👻🎃🪦💀🍫🍬

Today is Halloween, and since it's too early to trick-or-treat, why not walk through an ancient tomb? Get a ticket to our Ancient Nubia exhibition to explore a recreation of King Tanwetamani's tomb, see an eerily lit display of ancient funerary figurines, and immerse yourself in the Kingdom of Kush! Get tickets and more information at the link in our bio.

Thank you, @VisitRaleigh, for the great review of Ancient Nubia: Excavating Treasures of the Nile! What's so neat about this exhibition is that it's not just the pieces, displays, and lighting that are so incredible, but the interactive experiences are, too. Visitors of any age will enjoy their visit, regardless of their knowledge of Ancient Nubia. “It’s a fun, approachable, and exciting way to step into the footsteps of the archaeologists who discovered this new kingdom," says NCMA Nubiologist and Curator of Ancient Art Caroline Rocheleau. "Anyone who likes Egyptian stuff will love this, and it’s eye-opening to realize it’s not Egyptian!" Read the full review and get tickets at the link in our bio.

Here's a reminder: We're hosting another free NCMA After Hours next Thursday, November 5, from 5:30 pm-9 pm. We're celebrating @NancyBakerCahill's new exhibition, Ecologies of Scale, and @Ronny.Q's new East Building installation, South/North. Join us for artist talks, a guided exhibition tour, live screen printing, Baker Cahill's large-scale outdoor digital projections, hands-on craft activities, and free entry to Ancient Nubia: Excavating Treasures of the Nile. After Hours is always free! - but please register to attend using the link in our bio. --------- Image 1: Nancy Baker Cahill, Aftermath, 2025, projection-mapped graphite drawing sculpture, dimensions variable Image 2: Ronny Quevedo, South / North, 2026, wax screen-printing ink, mica, and dressmaker wax paper on polyester filament fabric mounted on board, H. 219 x W. 234 in., Courtesy of the artist, Commissioned by the North Carolina Museum of Art

"The Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt," on view at the NCMA from September 25, 2025, through March 8, shipped up to Boston after its run here. One of the most exciting parts of working on Esther has been discussions with colleagues at the @gardnermuseum in Boston about partnering as the third venue for the exhibition, says Michele Frederick, the NCMA's Curator of European Art and Provenance Research. The Gardner was interested in the Old Master focus—they are well known for their collection of Dutch art from the 1600s—and the opportunity it presented to engage with Boston's Jewish community in a meaningful way. The Gardner's exhibition space is smaller than NCMA's, which offered the exciting chance to showcase some of the same objects in slightly different conversations. This includes the Gardner's rare Flemish tapestry of Esther and the NCMA's "The Feast of Esther" by Jan Lievens, both featured prominently in the Raleigh version. ------- All images provided by the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: The exhibition "The Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt" in Hostetter Gallery, 6 August 2026 — 18 January 2027. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston.

Sculptor Ursula von Rydingsvard, whose work "Ogromna" is impossible to miss on the NCMA campus, died on October 27 at 84. Jared Ledesma, the NC Museum of Art's Curator of 20th-Century and Contemporary Art, provided a statement on Rydingsvard's work and her impact: "Ursula von Rydingsvard made an immense mark on the contemporary art world. Her monumental sculptures are instantly recognizable because of their natural materials and mystifying forms, and they embody a remarkable poetic force. Von Rydingsvard’s 'Ogromna' entered the NCMA’s People’s Collection in 2010 as part of the commemoration of West Building. The colossal sculpture is meant to represent the enduring strength of women, but now it also serves as a testament to the artist’s unbreakable and enduring legacy."

When asked, "What does the intersection of art, nature, and people look like in your life?" college students shared their answers through artwork, and now we're sharing their artwork with you. Inspired by "Nancy Baker Cahill: Ecologies of Scale" (on view through January 31, 2027), "Common Ground: Art, Nature, and People" explores themes of connection to nature, environmental justice, and human well-being through multidisciplinary expression. This free exhibition features more than 25 works by students from 9 colleges (7 in NC) and will be on view in the Education Gallery in East Building from October 31 through May 30, 2027. -------- Pictured: Maya Hutagalung (University of North Carolina at Charlotte ), An Ode to Grasslands, acrylic, pen, and collage, Courtesy of the artist

Looking for free things to do? We have 15+ free events and programs planned for November! Check out the list and set reminders for the ones you don't want to miss. NOTE: Some of these events require registration, and some may reach capacity, so please check our Events Calendar (link in bio) for event times and updates.

Fourth floor views in East Building. Did you know we have an Art Reference Library on the 4th floor? It's behind those glass doors across the way. It has more than 40,000 volumes and is open to the public Wednesday-Friday by appointment. I'll be honest: I have placed things on this ledge 🤫 But you should not.

International Artist Day is celebrated annually on October 25 to honor artists, their cultural contributions, and creative expression. The date was chosen to coincide with Pablo Picasso's birthday (10/25/1881). The best way to observe the day is to visit an art museum, gallery, or community studio. If you want to celebrate properly, give us a visit and check out the Picasso in our collection! ------- Pictured: Pablo Picasso, Seated Woman, Red and Yellow Background (Femme assise, fond rouge et jaune), 1952, Enamel on composition board, 49 1/4 × 31 7/8 in., Gift of Julian and Josie Robertson

Trees across North Carolina are showing off their beautiful fall colors. It's not quite "leaf season" in the Triangle yet, but when it is, there are lots of great places to enjoy the weather and foliage. 🍂 @WALTERMagazine put together a list of the best spots to see fall leaves in Raleigh - including on our campus. 🍁 Enjoy these photos from past fall seasons on our campus as a reminder of what it will look like soon! Click the link in our profile to check out WALTER's list.

Did you know? The exhibitions you see at the NCMA don't just *disappear* when their run ends - sometimes they travel to other museums across the country. Grace Hartigan: The Gift of Attention, organized by the NCMA's Curator of 20th Century and Contemporary Art, Jared Ledesma, was on view at the Museum from April 12, 2025, until August 10, 2025. But that wasn't the end of the exhibition. After its time here, the show traveled to the @portlandmuseum in Maine and is now on view at the @sheldonmuseum in Lincoln, Nebraska, until January 2027. Art exhibitions often move from museum to museum so people across the country can experience works of art they might not otherwise see, like those by Grace Hartigan! -------- Photos of Sheldon Museum exhibition: Courtesy of Bill Ganzel

Did we host an After Hours event last week? Yes. Are we hosting another After Hours in two weeks? Yes. Should you mark your calendar for Thursday, November 5, from 5:30 pm-9 pm? Yes. Join us for a very special After Hours as we celebrate two artists, @NancyBakerCahill and @Ronny.Q. Both will be here to talk with visitors about their works on view. Baker Cahill will also lead a tour of her exhibition, "Ecologies of Scale." Plus, local band @hi_delver will deliver an immersive musical performance, artist Mimi Stockton (@snotbody) will be live screen printing, we'll have hands-on art activities, and you won't want to miss Baker Cahill's large-scale outdoor projection on our buildings! ------- Image 1: Nancy Baker Cahill, Aftermath, 2025, projection-mapped graphite drawing sculpture, dimensions variable Image 2: Ronny Quevedo, South / North, 2026, wax screen-printing ink, mica, and dressmaker wax paper on polyester filament fabric mounted on board, H. 219 x W. 234 in., Courtesy of the artist, Commissioned by the North Carolina Museum of Art

We take pride in our efforts to make art more accessible to students across North Carolina—from virtual and in-person tours to hands-on art packs sent directly to schools to the @ncma.winstonsalem’s unique Portable Gallery program🎨✨ Launched 5 years ago to bring North Carolina art directly to Piedmont students, the Portable Gallery has grown from two paintings to 29 works by 19 NC artists. Now, the program is expanding to include long-term exhibitions inside schools, giving students direct, daily access to contemporary art! Click the link in our bio to learn more about the program's expansion in our Fall edition of Preview magazine. ------- Photos: Courtesy of Jess Blackstock/NCMA Winston-Salem

Do you ever like to just...sit outside and unplug? Take in nature, enjoy the birds chirping, listen to the breeze, read a book not on a screen, or maybe close your eyes and take a short nap? If so, we have great news: the Museum Park is full of places to sit and unplug, and the weather is amazing right now. What's your favorite place on campus to relax? -------- Image 1: Mike Cindric and Vincent Petrarca, Lowe's Pavilion, 2007, steel, wood, aluminum, and concrete, H. 20 × W. 26 × L. 48 ft., Commissioned with funds from the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation Image 3: Paul Cocksedge, Please Be Seated—North Carolina, 2025, coated PVC decking on stainless steel frame, H. 11 ft. 4 3/4 in. × W. 156 ft. 8 1/4 in. × D. 46 ft. 5 1/2 in., Gift of Pat and Tom Gipson in honor of Linda Johnson Dougherty Image 4: Hank Willis Thomas, Ernest and Ruth, 2015, steel plate and pipe, H. 83 × W. 96 × D. 48 in., Gift of Pat and Tom Gipson

It's Meet the Museum Monday, and this week's featured employee is Retail Experience Associate Mina Platania! Watch her interview to learn about the best advice she's received, her VHS collection (and her latest addition), her favorite movie (we screened it outdoors years ago!), and more.

It finally feels like fall today, so here's a nice autumn-themed painting for you to enjoy. We don't have the foliage quite yet, but at least it's not 85 degrees! ------- Image: Jasper Francis Cropsey, Autumn Foliage, 1858, Oil on canvas, 10 1/2 x 16 15/16 in., Purchased with funds from the State of North Carolina; not on view

Did you know that today, October 17, is International Archaeology Day?! Observed annually on the third Saturday in October, International Archaeology Day celebrates archaeology and its contributions to society. We are especially excited this year because we have the perfect exhibition to celebrate archaeology—"Ancient Nubia: Excavating Treasures of the Nile, from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston," which opens today! The NCMA's Caroline Rocheleau, PhD, director of research and curator of ancient collections, is an actual Nubiologist who has participated in digs in present-day Sudan. Rocheleau's expertise brings a unique archaeological perspective to the show. Learn more and get your tickets at the link in our bio. ------- Image: Rocheleau traces the hieroglyphs on the back of the statue of King Taharqa. Photo courtesy of Julian Reade.

If you missed last night's After Hours (or can't get enough of our new exhibition), you'll have another chance to enjoy free entry to "Ancient Nubia: Excavating Treasures of the Nile, from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston" on Sunday during our Ancient Nubia Community Day! In addition to exhibition entry, visitors can meet an archaeologist, make ancient artifact-inspired art, and learn about Nubia's rich history. Ancient Nubia Community Day 🕙: October 18, 10 am-5 pm 📍: NCMA East Building 💵: FREE Learn more about the exhibition at the link in our bio. ------- Pictured: Nubian artist, Kerma, Wall Inlay of a Lion, 1700–1550 BCE, faience, H. 21 5/8 × W. 47 1/4 in., Harvard University—Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition, 20.1224; Photo: © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Art and music come to life through movement in our next Global Rhythms performance, "Of Love," presented by @bigreddanceproject this Saturday at the NCMA. Inspired by five beautiful vocal arias, "Of Love" is a modern interpretation of 18th-century Italian songs that explore love in its many forms. Performed in front of a projection of Canaletto's "Capriccio: The Rialto Bridge and the Church of S. Giorgio Maggiore," the dance features duets and solos and reflects on all facets of love, from tender to flirtatious and from heartbroken to vengeful. To celebrate International Opera Day, local soprano Ariel Reed and pianist Jon Latané will provide live music during these performances. Following the program, join a conversation with Artistic Director Gerri Houlihan, Outreach Coordinator Susan Hartley, and all the performers. 🕚: October 17, 11 am and 1 pm 📍: East Building, Level B 💵: FREE --------- Pictured: Canaletto, Capriccio: The Rialto Bridge and the Church of S. Giorgio Maggiore, circa 1750, oil on canvas, 66 x 54 in., Purchased with funds from the State of North Carolina

Let's play a guessing game! This video shows a close-up view of which work found at the NCMA? 🤔

We're getting excited about the opening of our next exhibition, "Ancient Nubia: Excavating Treasures of the Nile, from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston," this Saturday (10/17). Be among the first to view this exhibition at the NCMA on Thursday night (10/15) during our October After Hours celebration. We'll have live music, live screen-printing, arts and crafts activities, food and beverages available for purchase, and the best part - a guided tour of this amazing exhibition! After Hours runs from 7 pm-10 pm, and entry is FREE. Learn more about Ancient Nubia: Excavating Treasures of the Nile, from @mfaboston at the link in our bio. ---------- Pictured: Hathor-headed crystal pendant, Nubian, Napatan Period, reign of Piankhy (Piye), 743–712 BCE, gold and rock crystal, 2 1/16 x 1 1/4 inches, Harvard University—Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition, 21.321. Photo © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Experience the vibrant cultures of India with an evening of light and community at the NCMA's Celebration of Diwali! Our NCMA Sacred Song Series continues Friday, November 6, with a joyous Diwali celebration. The evening features artisan vendors and a Carnatic music performance by acclaimed vocalist Smitha K. Prasad and an ensemble of traditional Indian musicians and artists. Vendor tables open at 5 pm and the concert begins at 6 pm. Get more information and register for free at the link in our bio. --------- Photo: Courtesy of the artist

Now through November 1, enter for a chance to win a fully restored, custom-painted 2001 Porsche Boxster S. @porsche.cary and @humblemechanic sought to restore this Boxster as closely as possible to its original production specifications and condition. The car was chosen for this year’s raffle as a nod to the NCMA’s own art conservation team and upcoming Conservation Center opening in 2027. This raffle is offered by the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation, Inc. All proceeds support NCMA programming. This raffle is in collaboration with Porsche Cary. Valued at $58,585. Click the link in our bio to get your ticket(s), read the full raffle rules and regulations, and get a behind-the-scenes look at the restoration process.

Oh, hi! We're your art museum: We are art you can hike, bike, and walk to. We are sensory trails, sunflower fields, and edible gardens. We are one of the best free museums in the US. We are a 164-acre Museum Park. All free—right in your backyard. Click the link in our profile and come say hi!

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