North Carolina Museum of Art

About this activity

It's time for an art-tastic day out because the North Carolina Museum of Art features an impressive state art collection that spans 5,000 years, from antiquity to present day, all set in a 164-acre park!

The galleries in the North Carolina Museum of Art are so impressive, so make sure you allow enough time to enjoy it!

Let's start with the African Gallery! This collection itself spans 16 centuries (how many years is that, kids?), and highlights the continent's incredible creativity through gold, ceramics, textiles, and modern art. There is also a great hands-on learning space where all visitors of all ages can explore the creative process behind some African textiles!

The Ancient Art Lounge is an interactive gallery perfect for all ages, where families can learn all about cultures and accomplishments of ancient people through the archaeological collections - from Aztec, to Greek, Inca, Egyptian, Maya and Roman. 

The European collection really is the crown jewel of the museum, which actually was the museum's intention from the day of its founding. Of the 139 paintings and sculptures purchased in its original days, 123 of these were European, and really make a fascinating experience!

Then, you have the Ancient Egyptian Galleries, and even though there are only 47 artifacts in here, they represent incredibly major and important periods in Egyptian history. In fact, the oldest artifact in the entire museum can be found in this gallery, which is a ceramic jar made 6,000 year ago - by hand!

The Judaic Art Gallery features important ceremonial objects from major Jewish traditions, and there are some incredible works from ancient Greece and Italy, with a collection that spans 3,000 years of history!

Of course, the North Carolina Museum of Art also has a wonderful American art collection, with paintings and sculptures from the late colonial period right through to th 20th century.

Love photography? The photographs within the North Carolina Museum of Art has grown to nearly 600 works, and the changing exhibitions from the collection as well as special exhibitions feature the work of international and national photographers, and will be sure to inspire!

Don't miss spending time in Museum Park too! The park is free and open daily, and features works of art in itself so it really is an art-tastic day out!