Artspace In the Community
Artspace Announcements
40th Anniversary
2026
This year marks Artspace’s 40th anniversary! Artspace began as an idea for an arts center and cultural hub in Downtown Raleigh, and in 1980, a group of arts and cultural leaders approached the City of Raleigh for support.
In 1981, Artspace incorporated with support from the Raleigh Arts Commission, the Downtown Advisory Board and Raleigh Mayor, Smedes York. In 1982, Artspace gained its non-profit 501(c)(3) status. Finally, in November 1986, Artspace opened to the public!
Since then, Artspace has grown, developed new programs, and served countless artists and community members.
New Creative Team
September 2025
We are thrilled to announce our new Creative Team—Creative Director Jonh Blanco, and Artist Programs Manager Alexandra Jane.
The two will collaborate to manage Artspace’s exhibitions, studio artists, residency programs, and artist support initiatives, expanding our capacity to serve artists.
Artspace Begins Partnership with Tongue & Groove
May 2025
We are proud to announce a new partnership with Tongue & Groove to host their monthly free open mics at Artspace. The open mic event gathers local talent of all kinds—poetry, music, storytelling, and more—to co-create ephemeral art.
Visit Artspace on the second Sunday of the month (1-3pm) to participate!
Arts on the Block
April 2025
We had an incredible time hosting our first ever block party, bringing the joy of the arts to all of Historic City Market!
Over 2600 people showed up to enjoy a vendor market, local DJs, creative exhibitions, art activities, artist demos, wine tastings, and more.
This event would not have been possible without the hard work and support of our volunteers, vendors, community partners, and sponsors. Thank you for coming out to celebrate a day of community and visual art!
February 2025
Thanks to funding from The Jandy Ammons Foundation, Raleigh Area Land Trust (RALT) and Artspace will be partnering to bring community-designed public art installations to the future Cottages of Idlewild affordable housing development.
The Jandy Ammons Foundation grant will support community engagement, a neighborhood arts committee, and more—building ways for the entire community to shape its future development.
Artspace Awarded $80,000 Grant from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts
January 2025
Artspace is proud to announce that it has been awarded $80,000 Multi-year Program Support grant from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts!
The grant will support Artspace‘s commitment to building the careers of artists through professional development, exhibitions, artists-in-residence, and artistic programming. Artspace is one of 47 organizations to receive funding from the Foundation in Fall 2024.
Artspace Celebrates 25 Years of Artist Residencies
2024
Artspace is proud to share that 2024 marks 25 years of our artist residency programs! These programs are career incubators offering free studio space, resources, and a culminating exhibition at a critical point in an artist’s career. Today our residency programs include the North Carolina Emerging Artist Residency, the HBCU Alumni Artist Residency, and the Universal Access Artist Residency.
Look back on the history and impact of these programs with this video directed by Eric Barstow, Multimedia Director at Duke University.
Artspace on the Go
2024
We’re excited to share that we’re launching Artspace on the Go – a mobile art van that brings the magic of arts education to children in grades K-12 and their families in underserved neighborhoods. The van tackles inequity in arts access head-on by providing free, artist-led, high quality art education experiences. Check out our upcoming tour dates and meet the van and create with us and help the van hit the road with a donation of any size.
Striving for Equality Mural
April 2024
Studio Artist Adriana Ameigh’s mural, Striving for Equality is temporarily up at Moore Square. This community art project was painted by the public during Feminist First Friday. Striving for Equality celebrates the achievements of women in history and contemporary society. Funding provided by Downtown Raleigh Alliance with support by Artspace .
Reflecting on our Residencies
January 2024
January was the final First Friday for NC Emerging Artists in Residence Isabel Lu and Anna Payne Rogers Previtte and HBCU Artist in Residence Jalen Jackson as our 2023 Artists in Residence! We are excited to share that all three residents will be staying at Artspace and moving into permanent studios happening later this month! Check out these interviews with our Artists in Residence by IDEAL intern Mona Abraham.
Press
Click here for Artspace’s Media Kit, including high-quality photos and logo files.
If you would like to be added to Artspace’s press list or are interested in writing a story about Artspace, please email Marketing Coordinator Sonali Schroder at sschroder@artspacenc.org.
Recent Features
- “Artspace Celebrates 40 Years of Connection Through Art” – Raleigh Parent
- “Arts on the Block is a ‘Supercharged’ Arts Takeover in Downtown Raleigh: April 18” – David Menconi, VisitRaleigh
- “36 Hours in Raleigh, N.C.: Things to Do and See” – Ingrid K. Williams, New York Times
- “Artspace celebrates 40 years of giving artists space in downtown Raleigh” – Zachery Eanes, Axios
- “Happy 40th Anniversary to Artspace!” – Trent Gilbreath, CBS17
- “With QuiltCon and Beyond, Fiber Arts Are in the Local Spotlight” – Colony Little, INDY Week
- “Raleigh native leads Artspace through difficult times” – Lauren Ohnesorge, Triangle Business Journal
- “André Leon Gray Closes Show at Artspace With a Powerfully Prescient Coda” – Colony Little, INDY Week
- “Revitalizing History: Affordable homes and art unite in Raleigh’s Idlewild community” – Greg Funderburg, CBS17
- “Andréa Keys Connell: Mom at Artspace, Raleigh” – Samantha Oleschuk, Burnaway
- “Artspace in Raleigh awarded $80,000 grant from Andy Warhol Foundation to expand visual arts program” – Starletta Watson, CBS17
- “Artspace launches new FRESH exhibition” – Danyale Daniels, RAL Today
- “Creativity on the Move: Artspace Expands Mission” – Ayn-Monique Klahre, WALTER Magazine
- “Where to get crafty in Raleigh” – Allie Remhof, RAL Today
Studio Artist Peter Marín Organizes Día de los Muertos Installation
November 2024
Studio Artist Peter Marín organized a massive art installation for Día de Oakwood, a Day of the Dead celebration at Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh. Marín designed large-scale ofrendas filled with thousands of paper flowers made by local students and community volunteers.
See this NPR article to learn more about the project!