CultureWorks: Curated Exhibition & Art Fair

CultureWorks is a day-long arts and culture festival, designed to highlight Greensboro's creative pulse and bring people together through art, fashion and creativity.  From local designers to nationally renowned creatives, CultureWorks uplifts diverse voices, supports community connection, and fuels cultural tourism in downtown Greensboro.’

This is where art lives. Join us and experience what creativity looks like—Greensboro-style.

The CultureWorks festival is produced by Creative Greensboro, the City's office of arts and culture, takes place on Saturday, May 23, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Greensboro Cultural Center and LeBauer Park-- the heart of the Cultural District.

CultureWorks is a day-long arts and culture festival, designed to highlight Greensboro's creative pulse and bring people together through art, fashion and creativity.  From local designers to nationally renowned creatives, CultureWorks uplifts diverse voices, supports community connection, and fuels cultural tourism in downtown Greensboro.

This is where art lives. Join us and experience what creativity looks like—Greensboro-style.

The CultureWorks festival is produced by Creative Greensboro, the City's Office of arts and culture in collaboration with the Greensboro Cultural Affairs Commission and university partners. This event takes place on Saturday, May 23, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Greensboro Cultural Center and LeBauer Park-- the heart of the Cultural District.

This free public event celebrates the city's artistic talent across multiple disciplines. And yes—it’s 100% FREE and fully accessible. Whether you're a longtime supporter of the arts or just discovering what Greensboro’s creative community has to offer, CultureWorks welcomes everyone. 

CultureWorks: Curated Exhibition & Art Fair

Creative Greensboro invites college students and professional visual artists to apply for the CultureWorks Curated Exhibition & Art Fair, a juried outdoor exhibition presented as part of the city's first CultureWorks Festival.

This exhibition and fair are designed to engage collectors, students, and the broader community, creating an experience that feels both elevated and accessible—supporting artists while inviting the city into a shared cultural moment.

The CultureWorks Festival will take place on Saturday, May 23, 2026, across the Greensboro Cultural Center and LeBauer Park in downtown Greensboro, transforming the surrounding corridor into a vibrant public setting for contemporary visual art.

The Curated Exhibition & Art Fair will be located along Brooks Peirce Way in LeBauer Park. Selected artists will present original work in thoughtfully designed outdoor displays that support both sustained viewing and direct exchange with the public.

Artist Statement
150–200 words describing your current artistic practice, materials, and conceptual interests. Students may include academic or exploratory context.

Work Samples
5–8 images of recent work (created within the last 3–5 years). Images should represent work suitable for outdoor exhibition at the CultureWorks Curated Exhibition & Art Fair. Digital artists may submit up to 2 video links in place of images.

Medium

Painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, mixed media, digital/new media
(All work must be original.)

• Image List
  For each work sample, include:
• Title
• Year
• Medium
• Dimensions
• Sale price (or “Not for Sale”)
• Resume or CV 1–2 pages.
  • Professional artists: exhibitions, commissions, education, or relevant experience.
    Student artists: education, coursework, exhibitions, or related creative experience.
• Outdoor Display Statement
  2–3 sentences describing how the work can be safely displayed outdoors, including size, weight, and mounting considerations.
• Student Status (if applicable)
  Student applicants must indicate current enrollment. Proof of enrollment may be requested upon acceptance.

Curation and Selection

Artists will be selected through a juried review process that considers:

• Artistic quality and originality
• Technical execution
• Cohesion of submitted work
• Alignment with the overall curated vision of the exhibition and fair

Fees & Participation

Artists selected to participate in the CultureWorks Curated Exhibition & Art Fair are required to pay a $25 acceptance fee. This fee supports event coordination, artist services, and on-site logistics.

Selected student artists are not required to pay an acceptance fee.

Payment details and deadlines will be shared upon acceptance.

This call is specifically for visual artists. Artists working in craft or maker-based practices are encouraged to apply through a separate application. Please visit the festival webpage for full details and application link for Makers and Creative Activations.

• Open to college students currently enrolled in a degree-granting program
• Open to professional visual artists at all career stages
• Artists must be able to present work suitable for outdoor display