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Summer at the NCMA

With West Building closed for the reimagining of the People’s Collection, we’re working to ensure visitors can access as much art as possible between now and the big reopening on October 8. Here are a few ways you can spend your summer at the Museum.

Click to hear artist Willie Cole speak about his amazing water bottle chandelier in the exhibition Fault Lines: Art and the Environment: “The bottle is like a casket delivering life to humans.”

Free Exhibitions

Cool off inside East Building and visit our free special exhibitions:

The Welcome Center is located adjacent to the upper Museum parking lots along Blue Ridge Road, near the smokestack. Restrooms, water fountains, food, and select retail items are available. Restrooms are open daily dawn to dusk.

Snacks and Sips

In East Building, East Café remains open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm. It has coffee and espresso drinks, entrees, and grab-and-go options ready for a picnic in the Park. Its patio also features new umbrella-shaded tables.

If you’re closer to the Ellipse and the upper parking lot, take a break at our new Welcome Center. It has both food and retail items available inside, accessible Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm.

 

Asphalt-free views! Skip the cafes overlooking parking lots and enjoy your next coffee date at the NCMA’s East Café, one of Raleigh’s best outdoor venues for catching up with good friends. Photo: Karen Kelly

Outdoor Fun

Outside, the Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park is open daily from dawn to dusk. The 25th anniversary Outdoor Performing Arts and Film season, presented by First Citizens Bank, continues through October with concerts, dance performances, outdoor movies, and more, including the new series Jazz at the NCMA.

On July 14 join multiple Grammy–award winner Arturo O’Farrill and his Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble for a night of hot rhythms under the cool stars.

 Events and Programs

Our campus stays alive with family tours, studio programs, group exercise classes, Mindful Museum programming, and more. Bookmark our events calendar to see what’s on the schedule.

Karlie Marlowe
Karlie Marlowe is director of marketing and visitor services at the NCMA.

1 thought on “Summer at the NCMA”

  1. Excellent experience whether wandering the grounds or viewing the myriad historical exhibits. A must see if visiting Raleigh. The staff is friendly and the curators do a great job keeping things fresh and educational.

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