This publish might include affiliate hyperlinks. We might obtain a small fee, for free of charge to you, when you make a purchase order. Learn Disclosure.
Assume North Carolina and most of the people think about rolling mountains or sandy seashores, however enterprise into its cities, and also you’ll discover a completely different form of panorama: one painted in daring murals, sculpted in handmade ceramics, or stuffed with the candy sound of buskers on tiny phases tucked down aspect streets.
From Asheville’s artsy enclaves to Durham’s indie galleries and Carrboro’s colourful road festivals, these are North Carolina’s most artistic cities, the place artistic vitality will not be restricted to a gallery or museum however is rooted within the very soul and neighborhood of the place.
For artwork lovers, North Carolina is a state that rewards you in spades. It’s a playful playground for the curious thoughts, and for many who see the world slightly otherwise.
Asheville
There’s one thing about Asheville. It’s not solely a mountain city however a hub of creativity. From the road artwork murals of the River Arts District to the revolutionary craft beer scene, anybody who goals large will discover their tribe in Asheville.
In Asheville, murals adorn the skin of brick warehouses, musicians busk on downtown corners, and the neighborhood can work together with the artists of their working studios within the River Arts District, the place painters, potters, glassblowers, and sculptors excellent their craft.
In Asheville, additionally, you will discover impartial galleries, neighborhood theaters, and dwell music venues that maintain the cultural calendar full year-round. If that’s not sufficient, Asheville is the place to go for music and foodie festivals – Shindig on the Inexperienced, Mountain Dance & Folks Competition, Asheville Fringe Arts Competition, and Downtown After 5 are only a few highly-acclaimed festivals that put Asheville on the map.
Though Asheville remains to be recovering from the consequences of Hurricane Helene, which destroyed big parts of the city (together with the River Arts District), its spirit stays intact.
In fact, many might say their artwork is mirrored of their meals and beverage! Asheville tops our record of finest foodie city in North Carolina, and finest place in NC for beer lovers.
Right here is our two day itinerary for Asheville, a information to the River Arts District, and our evaluate of the IHG Indigo Resort Downtown Asheville.
Durham
As soon as outlined by tobacco and textiles, Durham has remodeled its industrial previous right into a boldly trendy arts scene. Historic warehouses home modern galleries, artist studios, and efficiency areas, whereas hanging murals flip downtown streets into an open-air exhibition. We love the Nasher Artwork Museum at Duke College and the distinctive Satellite tv for pc Park
For Broadway musical followers, Durham is the place you’ll find the largest touring exhibits. The DPAC is the place to go for Broadway’s favorites and big-name touring artists, however for many who desire low-key and indie, you’ll discover intimate dwell jazz bars like Sharp 9 Gallery and Missy Lane’s Meeting Room have indie/acoustic artists on any given night time.
The American Underground on the American Tobacco Campus is a neighborhood area and hub for innovators, creators and changemakers since 2010. That is the place the visionaries sharpening the longer term come to be empowered and supported.
Then there’s Durham Underground Market, held as soon as a month, the place you possibly can dive into pop-up stalls and store for distinctive crafts instantly from the maker, while being serenaded by native dwell musicians. Durham’s artwork scene is curious and always evolving, mirroring town’s revolutionary and inclusive spirit.
Here’s a information on issues to do in Durham
Raleigh
In fact, we’ve got to incorporate our residence of Raleigh on this record. We’re always amazed by what number of artistic ventures open up right here within the Metropolis of Oaks. Raleigh’s artistic scene blends large establishments just like the NC Museum of Artwork with small, impartial tasks just like the Raleigh Artwork Murals challenge – an initiative that promotes the creation of road artwork within the downtown district.
With scrappy galleries, artist-run areas, and month-to-month First Friday occasions that flip downtown right into a energetic arts crawl, Raleigh embraces the artistic sorts and offers them a canvas to shine on. That extends over to the performing arts, with many small theaters and the Martin Marietta Heart for the Performing Arts which is residence to the North Carolina Symphony and the Carolina Ballet.
We’re large followers of the annual Artsplosure pageant, which is an arts and tradition pageant that takes place each Could, in addition to Illuminate Artwork Stroll, a festive show of sunshine sculptures that pop up in downtown in the course of the Vacation season, and the Spring Daze Arts Competition that celerbates North Carolina artisans and craftsmen an exquisite forest location beside a lake!
In Raleigh, murals brighten warehouses that will have as soon as perished into nothing, dwell music spills from small and intimate venues, and crafters and makers gasoline the artistic vitality at native markets. There’s additionally the coworking Artwork Area in downtown Raleigh the place you possibly can see artists at work, and smaller workshops within the Boylan Heights District – they’ve a incredible neighborhood Artwork Stroll each December which brings the neighborhood out within the 1000’s to help native artisans.
However among the finest inventive points of interest to discover (new in late 2025) are 5 Thomas Dambo trolls hiding in Dorothea Dix Park! Its a enjoyable journey roaming Raleigh’s largest metropolis park discovering the household of trolls hiding in forests and resting towards a tree having fun with a fairly Raleigh skyline view!
Though a capital metropolis finest identified for innovation and expertise, Raleigh is a metropolis that exhibits you possibly can nonetheless take inventive dangers – and it pays off. We will’t have a good time this metropolis sufficient!
Right here’s a information on high issues to do in Raleigh BUT in order for you ALL the recent ideas, insights on issues to do we’ve got a seperate web site ThisisRaleigh.com with EVERYTHING that you must know. Begin with our 48 hour itinerary information to Raleigh.
Carrboro
Carrboro is a city in North Carolina that’s small in dimension however large on persona. I’d argue that it’s North Carolina’s most unapologetically artsy city, well-known for having extra artwork galleries, indie music venues, and artsy espresso retailers than another city.
That is largely due to The ArtsCenter in Carrboro, which is consistently placing on performs and exhibitions, in addition to serving as a hub for artists and creatives to return collectively as a neighborhood. The NC Crafts Gallery on the nook is an enthralling store has been showcasing the work of North Carolina artists and makers since 1989.
Fundamental Avenue is adorned with murals, sculptures, and inventive particulars, that are finest seen on the month-to-month ArtWalk, held each 2nd Friday. The ArtWalk is run by the City of Carrboro Council and takes you on a journey by way of the city’s artwork galleries, studios, retailers, and artsy eating places.
Carrboro can also be residence to the legendary music venue Cat’s Cradle, which has been internet hosting dwell music occasions for greater than 50 years. Artists like Nirvana, Public Enemy, John Mayer, and Iggy Pop have carried out right here.
Poetry can also be one other inventive expression that’s celebrated in Carrboro. The City Council repeatedly has poetry readings, and Carrboro additionally hosts the West Finish Poetry Competition yearly in October. Fiercely native and proudly eccentric, Carrboro thrives on neighborhood, creativity, and collaboration. We additionally LOVE their Saturday farmers markets. It has a enjoyable neighborhood, homegrown vibe that reminds us of markets again in Australian. Right here’s the right way to spend an pleasurable day in Carrboro.
Chapel Hill
Only a quick journey from Carrboro is Chapel Hill, one other city anchored in inventive expression. Much like Carrboro in that yow will discover artwork exhibitions and poetry readings within the City Corridor and Public Library, however completely different in that it’s a bigger city with a rising neighborhood, largely due to the UNC Chapel Hill.
Within the heart of downtown, they’ve the Ackland Artwork Museum, the place the everlasting assortment spans the whole lot from historic artifacts to modern American masterpieces. They host 10–12 rotating exhibitions a yr, with greater than half the gallery area devoted to particular and touring reveals! And for one thing distinctive, you possibly can pay a go to to William Hayes Ackland, the museum’s namesake and benefactor, who’s buried in an alcove.
Poetry is a giant a part of Chapel Hill’s inventive skeleton, and each two years, a Poet Laureate is picked to encourage and have a good time the neighborhood by way of poetry and public packages. The place is paid, albeit a small payment, however the truth that creativity will not be solely inspired however financially supported exhibits simply how a lot this city cares about artistic expression.
In addition to this, campus museums and efficiency halls provide rotating exhibitions, whereas downtown galleries, bookstores, and intimate music venues maintain the artistic vitality native. Seize a mural map from the Welcome Heart and stroll Franklin Avenue and Rosemary St to identify murals and be taught extra about native Chapel Hill tradition!
Here’s a information for a two-night getaway to Chapel Hill. We stayed on the historic and iconic Carolina Inn and may’t advocate it sufficient!
Seagrove
Seagrove is a tiny city in central North Carolina with an outsized artistic legacy—and if Carrboro is unapologetically artsy, Seagrove is unapologetically craft-driven. Generally known as the Pottery Capital of the USA, Seagrove has been shaping clay for greater than 300 years, making it one of many longest repeatedly practiced pottery traditions within the nation.
What makes Seagrove particular isn’t simply the quantity of potters—it’s the depth of ability, heritage, and individuality. Greater than 100 working potters dwell and work in and round city, many from multi-generation pottery households. You’ll discover the whole lot from conventional salt-glazed jugs and earthy stoneware to modern sculptural items and trendy useful ceramics, all made by hand.
On the coronary heart of all of it is the North Carolina Pottery Heart, which tells the story of the area’s pottery historical past whereas showcasing rotating exhibitions from native artists. From there, the enjoyment is just wandering—driving quiet again roads, following hand-painted indicators to particular person studios, and assembly the potters themselves, usually working simply ft from their kilns.
Seagrove actually comes alive in the course of the Seagrove Pottery Competition in November, when studios open their doorways, kilns are fired, and collectors from across the nation descend in town. However even on an everyday day, there’s one thing deeply grounding in regards to the rhythm of this place—the sluggish tempo, the crimson clay underfoot, and the sense that creativity here’s a lifestyle, not a efficiency.
Rooted in custom but always evolving, Seagrove is a reminder that creativity doesn’t must be loud to be highly effective. It’s considerate, tactile, and deeply human. If you happen to love artwork with soul—and locations the place craftsmanship nonetheless issues—Seagrove belongs on the high of your North Carolina artistic cities record.
Winston-Salem
Dwelling to the College of North Carolina College of the Arts, NCMA Winston-Salem, and Reynolda Home Museum of American Artwork, Winston-Salem has to safe a spot on this record. In reality, it has been given the title “North Carolina’s Metropolis of Arts and Innovation.”
Winston-Salem blends old-school inventive craft with modern imaginative and prescient, and there’s all the time a gentle stream of exhibitions, performances, and experimental work to discover at these famend establishments.
Head to the colourful downtown district and also you’ll uncover colourful murals, public artwork shows, and out of doors installations. Nestled between Commerce and Liberty Avenue is the Downtown Arts District, the place you possibly can stroll into modern artists’ studios and take residence one thing considered one of a sort.
Then there may be ARTivity On The Inexperienced, an art-themed park in downtown Winston-Salem, increasing the Artwork District and connecting it to Innovation Quarter. The park options central water misting towers, a bandstand, a mural wall, and rolling grassy hills. All of that is lit at night time, and the lights on the towers and bandstand change colours.
With ballet, movie, theater, and visible artwork all thriving aspect by aspect, Winston-Salem is a city embedded in artistic spirit.
Wilmington
Those that observe us repeatedly will know that we’ve got a love for Wilmington, a coastal charmer with a artistic spirit.
Wilmington pairs salty air with inventive ambition and is understood for its long-running movie business. It’s identified for being the backdrop for TV collection Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill, in addition to that includes in blockbusters like Iron Man 3, The Conjuring, The Starvation Video games, and The Summer season I Turned Fairly.
In addition to its movie roots, Wilmington additionally serves as a canvas for road artwork, which has brightened up its Riverwalk district, and hosts quite a few occasions and festivals all year long courtesy of the Arts Council of Wilmington, most notably its Fourth Friday occasion.
The Cameron Artwork Museum (CAM) has a group of effective arts, crafts and design which incorporates works of historic and modern significance by regional, nationwide and worldwide artists and artisans. New Components Gallery has showcased the perfect of regional and nationwide effective artwork and craft since 1985 and the riverwalk has everlasting sculptures comparable to the enduring Venus Flytrap. Do you know that it’s native to this space?
One piece of art work hidden within the Airlie Gardens value seeing is the Bottle Chapel, a mosaic type piece of artwork made out of – you guessed it – 1000’s of colourful glass bottles glued collectively by cement. Whereas there the fantastic thing about the 400+ yr outdated, 128ft excessive, Airlie Oak dripping with Spanish moss might be the best masterpiece in all of Wilmington!
Right here’s our two day itinerary for Wilmington, a evaluate of our most popular lodge in Wilmington, and our favourite locations to eat in Wilmington.
Greensboro
Greensboro is usually underestimated as an artsy city in North Carolina. Its downtown is stuffed with cultural facilities,murals, galleries, and theaters that worth hands-on creativity, from open studios to citywide artwork walks.
Artists can discover neighborhood comparatively simply in Greensboro on the GreenHill Heart for NC Artwork or GreensboroArtsHub, whereas artwork lovers can admire modern artwork exhibitions on the Weatherspoon Artwork Museum and Heart for Visible Artists.
Greensboro’s artwork scene is community-driven and refreshingly unpretentious, with the city council providing grants for native artists to show their work in its digital kiosks and Metropolis Corridor. You’ll discover up and down Elm St and inside its boutiques and galleries. (Numerous nice breweries and resturants to take pleasure in on this eclectic downtown predominant road as effectively!)
Greensboro’s creativity is much less about being flashy and extra a few real connection between the artists and their audiences.
Black Mountain
Tucked simply east of Asheville, Black Mountain is greater than only a mountain city within the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It has lengthy punched above its weight creatively.
As soon as residence to the influential Black Mountain School, the city nonetheless attracts artists, writers, and musicians, and is alleged to be residence to greater than 100 artists.
It’s energetic downtown, which is residence to Black Mountain Arts Heart, a neighborhood artwork heart within the city’s former city corridor and is residence to a number of impartial galleries and craft studios, whereas inventive occasions and workshops happen repeatedly to encourage locals and guests alike to choose up a paintbrush or placed on their dancing footwear.
If you happen to’re visiting Black Mountain, you should definitely head to the Chapel of the Prodigal at Montreat School to see a fresco portray by artist Benjamin F. Lengthy IV, who has created a surprising non secular fresco piece within the church’s sanctuary.
Blowing Rock
We found Blowing Rock on a journey to Boone, and shortly found it was greater than only a gateway to the Tweetsie Railroad.
Blowing Rock blends Appalachian tradition with inventive aptitude. From its Artwork and Historical past Museum to its Artwork and Sculpture Path, this compact city is filled with artsy finds – particularly in its downtown space, which is dotted with galleries showcasing regional painters, photographers, and visible artists.
Music and artwork festivals abound in Blowing Rock. Annually, occasions like Artwork within the Park, Live shows within the Park, and Symphony by the Lake deliver the artistic spirit outdoor, whereas pubs like City Tavern, The Inn at Ragged Gardens, and The Speckled Trout Restaurant & Bottle Store host dwell music a number of nights per week all through the hotter months.
What North Carolina cities ooze with the artistic spirit that you simply really feel futre readers of this publish wish to find out about? What makes it a high artsy place in NC?
