Take this to *art,* CHS — Charlotte, NC, not only has hundreds of road trip-worthy foodie destinations, but a bustling arts scene that’s the icing on the cake of a weekend in the Southeast’s Queen City. Here are five ways to explore the best of Charlotte’s art culture — including one-of-a-kind ways to interact with Instagrammable murals, awe-inspiring exhibitions, and more.
🖼️ First Friday Gallery Crawl
Explore
South End’s First Friday Gallery Crawl highlights the best of the vibrant neighborhood’s bustling arts scene. Participating art galleries + design centers located along the Rail Trail offer extended hours, special receptions, and light bites and drinks.
Interact
Just follow the music — many galleries and neighborhood coffee shops + restaurants feature live music throughout the evening. Plus, some galleries host live painting sessions where you can watch art come to life.
🎨 Art festivals
Explore
Charlotte is home to several impressive art festivals. A couple worth highlighting: Charlotte SHOUT! (March 31-April 16) showcases the city’s creativity and innovation through art, music, food, and ideas, while the Charlotte International Arts Festival (Sep. 15-Oct. 1) celebrates global artists through 200+ visual, performing, and immersive art attractions.
Interact
Love interactive art? Charlotte SHOUT! features 20 art installations you can touch, see, and interact with. Immersive art is also a key element of the Charlotte International Arts Festival.
🎟️ Picasso, Bearden, and more
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What’s better than seeing 40+ landscapes spanning Pablo Picasso’s 77-year career? One ticket that grants access to both “Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds” and “Bearden/Picasso: Rhythm and Reverberations,” featuring a first-ever organized comparison of Picasso and Cubism artist Romare Bearden. Both exhibitions are on display at the Mint Museum Uptown through May 21.
Interact
While there are too many exhibition-related events to list, some standout ways to interact with the famed artists are a dance night, theatre performances, expert talks, and celebratory evenings.
🤳 Art Walks
Explore
With 24+ art walks and trails, Art Walks CLT‘s curated self-guided art strolls include an art walk map, artist info, stories, and connections to look for. Hint: This is your chance to both explore Charlotte’s unique neighborhoods and learn about the creative soul of the city.
Interact
Take experiencing Charlotte’s murals to the next level with South End Interactive and Uptown Interactive. Just scan the QR code on specially marked murals to watch a video of the artist, play with filters for the best Instagrammable photo, and see a 3-D model of the artwork. No app needed.
🛵 Camp North End
Explore
Once a manufacturing site for Model T cars, Camp North End is a 76-acre hub of creative and innovative businesses. Divided into several districts, some of the best spots to catch artisans include Dupp & Swat, Macfly Fresh Printing Co., Skillpop, Babe & Butcher, BLK MRKT, and Black Moth Bars.
Interact
Rent an e-scooter or bike from Rent EBoards and create your own tour of the property’s murals and art installations. The painted garage doors in the Boileryard are a fun place to start.
Need more art destinations? Here are all the ways to experience Charlotte’s artistic visionaries.*
Poll:
Which Charlotte art adventure best suits you?
- Museum Maven
- Gallery Crawler
- Street Art Lover
- Artfest Enthusiast