The Capital City is blessed in having many outstanding arts organizations that help make Raleigh a delightful place to live. Artspace, a visual arts center located in Downtown Raleigh, is dedicated to providing inspiring and engaging arts education and community outreach programs. It is a thriving visual art organization with a uniqueness that lies in its emphasis on the art of creation.
Artspace has a national reputation for breaking down barriers to visual art by providing artists with a place and time to work and to exhibit their work, the opportunity to engage with other artists, and professional development opportunities. Artspace serves the public by bringing free or low-cost art programming to children and adults where they live and play, introducing them to diverse artistic styles; and by further educating them regarding the creative process. Artspace is also a wheelchair accessible facility.
History
Artspace had its genesis in 1980 when a group of community leaders with the vision of opening an art center and cultural corridor in Downtown Raleigh approached the Raleigh City Council. Council directed the City of Raleigh Arts Commission to establish a task force to explore the need for and interest in a Downtown multipurpose art facility. The task force made two recommendations:
Artspace, one of the pioneering organizations in the revitalization of Downtown Raleigh, has occupied the Sanders Ford building since 1986. The building served as a livery stable prior to becoming a car dealership. More than two million visitors have visited the facility since its opening.
The 30,000-square foot facility is home to more than 30 artists working in a variety of media; three exhibition spaces, an education space, a gift shop, and administrative offices. Artspace is one of the largest open studio environments in the country and is the premier organization of its kind in North Carolina.
The City of Raleigh provided $141,000 in support to Artspace for the 2010 – 2011 fiscal year through the City of Raleigh Arts Grant Program administered by the City of Raleigh Arts Commission.
Education
Education is at the heart of Artspace’s mission. Current offerings for educators include field trips, student scholarships, and professional development opportunities such as workshops, tours, and an annual juried educators’ exhibition. Artspace offers renewal credits and discounted rates for educators.
Artspace hosts numerous school groups, summer camps, art clubs, and other youth organizations for informal and formal guided tours of the building and artist studios. Participants learn the history of Artspace and are encouraged to expand their understanding of the creative process by interacting with the studio artists.
The Artspace Summer Arts Program provides youth classes for rising third through tenth graders to work closely with and learn from a professional artist. Classes for youth are weeklong, half-day courses to allow students to complete one large individual art project and several smaller ones. The program includes 48 youth classes, serving more than 600 youths, including up to 50 need-based, full-scholarship students. The 2012 Summer Arts Program starts June 10 and runs through August 11.
The Process and Product workshop takes up to 30 fifth-graders on a one-hour guided tour of the facility and participation in a one-hour interactive art class where participants will produce a batik using hot melted wax and special dyes. Batik is an exciting technique for creating designs on fabric. Dates are still available.
The Artspace Outreach Program gives participants a voice through their artwork – providing them with the language of art through which they can express their thoughts and ideas, and share them with the community. This spring fourth-graders at Hope Elementary School will participate in the program, which will integrate visual arts, language arts and social studies curricula.
Events and Exhibitions
More than 100,000 visitors enjoy the 30-plus challenging and award-winning exhibitions presented by Artspace each year. Other annual services include interactive workshops attended by more than 2,000 school children, art programs for at-risk children, classes and workshops attended by more than 3,000 youth and adults annually, and approximately 100 public events open at no charge to the community.
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Exhibitions
City of Raleigh Arts Grant Program
The Arts Grant Program provides financial support to local arts organizations that enrich and enliven the lives of Raleigh residents and visitors. The grant program provides support for a diverse range of opportunities including city arts festivals, live theatre, dance and music performances, visual arts exhibitions and youth arts programs.
The program has distributed more than $20 million to qualifying organizations since its inception in 1989. A major example of the Raleigh City Council's dedication to cultural development, grants funding is supported by a $4.50 per capita annual allocation. This support has contributed to the Capital City being widely recognized as one of the best places in the country in which to live.
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