The North Carolina Museum of Art Winston-Salem, formerly known as SECCA, will open a new downtown gallery on 4th Street this summer while renovations continue at its permanent location in Buena Vista. The space, located near where the museum first opened as an artist-run gallery 70 years ago, will host outdoor concerts, vinyl nights, and exhibitions. The inaugural show, titled "Unboxed," features works from 13 North Carolina artists who participated in the museum's Portable Gallery program, which commissions contemporary art for local school systems. The gallery opens July 16th.
This move matters because it reconnects the museum with its downtown roots and expands public access to contemporary art in Winston-Salem's entertainment and business district. By activating a temporary space with diverse programming and highlighting regional artists through the Portable Gallery initiative, the museum strengthens its community engagement and educational outreach, bridging the gap between its institutional home and the broader public during renovations.