Our area has quite the artsy reputation. If you're curious how we got it, you'll find the answer in one of our many museums and galleries, and throughout our towns.
Hop, Walk, or Crawl
With the numerous art galleries in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, and Last Fridays in Hillsborough, you could get your fill of museum hopping and gallery crawling. But the “can’t miss” on any list is Ackland Art Museum. It houses over 18,000 works of art, including European masterworks, 20th century and contemporary art, African art, Asian art, North Carolina pottery, and works on paper.
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Get the Kids Involved
If you’re visiting the area with kids, skip the galleries in favor of a walking tour of our vibrant downtown murals. If the weather isn’t cooperating, head to Kidzu Children’s Museum to explore the messier side of art (smocks provided) and let their creativity run free!
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Dim the Lights
No art lover’s retreat would be complete without a night at the theater. Choose from a mix of classics and new works at PlayMakers Repertory Company, the professional theatre in residence for UNC’s Department of Dramatic Art. The ArtsCenter in Carrboro features two galleries with rotating monthly exhibits and has an exceptional performance program attracting regionally and nationally acclaimed talent year after year.
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All of the Above and More
From visual arts to live performances to storytelling, Orange County is a magnet for artistic talent. Make a day of it and explore our vibrant arts scene - click on the interactive map and plan your personal art trail - will it be historic, whimsical, contemporary, lively? You decide.
MAP
Follow Ophelia, an art instructor at J.F. Webb High School in Oxford, NC as she meets with local artists and checks out Orange County's arts scene.
| 1. | J.F Webb High School | Oxford, NC | |
| 2. | Coffee Shop & the Coffee Plant Mural | Open Eye Cafe | 101 S. Greensboro St., Carrboro, NC |
| 3. | Paint by Numbers Mural | Pantana Bob's | 305 W. Rosemary St., Chapel Hill, NC |
| 4. | Sea Turtles Mural | (no longer exists) | |
| 5. | Parade of Humanity Mural | Carolina Coffee Shop | 138 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, NC |
| 6. | Frank Gallery | 370 E. Main Street, Ste 130, Carrboro, NC | |
| 7. | Weaver Street Fine Art | 205 W. Weaver St., Carrboro, NC | |
| 8. | Blue Dogwood Public Market | 306 W. Franklin St., G, Chapel Hill, NC | |
| 9. | Ackland Art Museum | University of North Carolina | 101 S. Columbia St., Chapel Hill, NC |
