Best Art Towns to Live - Wilmington North Carolina
What defines a best art town in America? Art itself can be defined in several ways, from visual art to the performing arts. Longing for another road trip, my mind drifts to visual arts in Wilmington North Carolina. If you'd ask my Mom, she'd say there are three ingredients which make a happy artist: Access to high quality art museums, the variety of art classes nearby, and number of big art festivals would be what's required in a best small art town. As you get to know Wilmington better during your search for Wilmington NC real estate, you'll find this North Carolina coastal city scores high on all three levels.
WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA ART MUSEUMS AND ART GALLERIES:
From the funky art painted on the sides of office buildings to formal art collections on display in museums, art is all around you in Wilmington. Here’s where the art lover's hang out:
Cameron Art Museum is one of the finest art museums on the coast of North Carolina and is celebrating 50 years this month. The museum’s collection of fine arts, crafts, and design includes works of historical and contemporary importance by regional, national and international artists and artisans. The permanent collection houses works by Mary Cassatt, Ando Hiroshige, Saul Steinberg, Sam Francis, Phillips Guston, Leonard Baskin and Robert Gwathmey to name a few. The museum frequently rotates its exhibits showcasing traveling art exhibits from around the world. General membership costs $50 a year and allows unlimited visits to the museum. Seniors over 65 years old pay $30 for a discounted membership.
Bellamy Mansion is one of North Carolina’s most spectacular examples of antebellum architecture and today is a museum that focuses on history and design arts. This Wilmington North Carolina art museum offers tours, changing exhibitions and an informative look at historic preservation in action. Friends of Bellany Mansion Museum pay $50 per year for unlimited access to the museum.
Bosman Gallery at the University of North Carolina Wilmington puts on 6–8 art exhibitions per year, in addition to exhibiting the University Union Permanent Collection. Also on campus is the Ann Flack Boseman Gallery showcasing a unique collection of media, from photography to sculpture. The exhibitions showcase work by UNCW students as well as local and regional artists.
The are dozens of Wilmington art galleries to explore throughout the city, exhibits in more casual settings such as wine bars, coffee shops and delicious restaurants. Bogetta Art & Wine on Front Street repeatedly has been named by locals as the Best Art Gallery in Wilmington. Three Hounds Gallery is another hip place to appreciate fine art.
WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA ART CLASSES:
When we stop for a minute and really let art infuse into our soul, art invokes a sense of curiosity and wonder. How did they do it and what were thinking might? Wilmington art classes take the guess work out of the equation, providing insight and high quality art instruction at these two facilities:
The Museum School at the Cameron Art Museum provides adult and youth art education including a range of beginning and master classes which can include CEU credit through New Hanover County Schools. Distinctions of The Museum School programming include instructor-guided access to the museum’s exhibitions and select objects in the museum’s permanent collection not on view, and access to the museum’s non-circulating art library numbering over 2000 publications and monographs.
The University of North Carolina Wilmington is home to an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) focusing on adults aged 50 and older. OLLI’s Society of Arts in Session is nicknamed OASIS. Students meets weekly learning about sculpture, painting, photography, and more.
WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA ART FESTIVALS:
If you’re like me, finding one of a kind art is my favorite kind of treasure hunt at art festivals. There’s no better place on the coast of North Carolina than at one of Wilmington’s art festivals. These are the most popular:
April - North Carolina Azalea Festival - over 300,000 attendees and 200 art exhibitors
May - Orange Street Art Festival - 60 art exhibitors
September - Coastal Fine Arts & Craft Show - 75 art exhibitors
October - NC Oyster Festival - over 500,000 attendees and over 100 art exhibitors
November - Wilmington Arts & Craft Show - 65 art exhibitors
The Brunswick Art Council is a busy organization promoting Wilmington art programs and events for children, adults and art organizations in the studies of painting, sculpture, glass and fibers. Joining as a member will give you a firsthand knowledge of upcoming art events.
If you are searching for the a coastal North Carolina community in Wilmington, we can save you tons of time and energy by connecting you with our trusted colleague. Write info@communityfinder.com or call us toll free at 866.384.1799.
