North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC
Learn More About North Carolina Museum of Art
North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA, debuted in 1956 as the first significant museum collection in the country to be created by state funding and legislation. Since the early 1947 appropriation that launched its collection, the Museum has remained a shining example of open-minded public policy.
Today the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, NC showcases a comprehensive collection of artworks that spans more than 5,000 years, from ancient times to the present. It has over 40 galleries and more than a dozen works of art. It also hosts renowned exhibitions, public events, and a theater for outdoor performances. Listed by Insider among the top 25 museums in the country, the NCMA is a must-see for tourists to the region.
History
The North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, NC, has an illustrious past. Founded in 1947, the NCMA was initially situated in an ancient warehouse in downtown Raleigh, with William H. Frey serving as its first director from 1947 to 1951.
Two paintings from the late Lucy D. Morgan of Raleigh’s estate formed the foundation of the Museum’s permanent collection. The state legislature afterward appropriated $1 million to purchase a collection of artworks for North Carolina residents. The funds were used to buy American and European works, rapidly increasing the Museum’s collection.
In 1956, the Museum relocated to the remodeled State Highway Division Building on Morgan Street. It, however, outgrew its Morgan Street site by the 1960s, citing a need for temperature and humidity controls for the appropriate preservation of artwork. In 1967, the state government established a 15-member State Art Building Commission to choose a suitable location and supervise the construction of a new museum.
The commission settled on the Blue Ridge Road location, and the new building opened in 1983 with Edgar Peters Bowron as the director. In 1988, NCMA’s first significant exhibition, “Art of the American South,” was held, including artworks from the colonial era to the present. The showwas a great success and launched the start of the Museum’s dedication to gathering, preserving, and showcasing works from the south.
Ever since, the NCMA has hosted mega programs and exhibitions showcasing a vast collection of paintings, sculptures, and other works of art from all over the world. It has also created several outreach initiatives and educational programs to engage the neighborhood.
The North Carolina Museum of Art neighborhood, Raleigh, NC
Most of the housing stock in the blue ridge road neighborhood comprises small to medium single-family homes and apartment buildings, including high-rise apartments. The median listing price of homes in the blue ridge area is $149,500, and the median rent is $1298 for a one-bedroom and $ 1552 for a two-bedroom apartment. The community has many green spaces, providing residents with plenty of outdoor activities.
The neighborhood also has a variety of restaurants, performance spaces, and other artistic attractions. So, residents enjoy many activities ranging from viewing art displays at the Museum to attending local music performances. The North Carolina Museum of Art neighborhood is excellent for culture enthusiasts and art lovers to call home.
