VAE Raleigh, Raleigh

VAE Raleigh is a nonprofit cultural arts organization established in 1980 by a group of passionate local artists. As the oldest visual arts organization in Raleigh, VAE has played a pivotal role in the region’s art scene, fostering creativity and artistic expression for over four decades. Though its name has changed throughout the years, VAE Raleigh remains committed to its founding mission: to build a vibrant, inclusive, and well-resourced creative community.

VAE Raleigh has earned recognition, including the prestigious Raleigh Medal of Arts Award, for its efforts to enrich the community through art and education. It provides a platform for emerging and established artists, curating over 80 exhibitions and community programs annually. The organization’s work doesn’t stop within gallery walls—it brings visual arts into unexpected spaces, inviting the public to experience art in novel ways. One of its signature events, the Raleigh Street Painting Festival, allows people of all ages to interact with and appreciate creativity on the streets of Raleigh.

As a welcoming hub for artists and a catalyst for cultural enrichment, VAE Raleigh continues to shape the local art landscape and inspire positive change through creative expression and community partnerships.