The Annual Juried Quilts and Wall Hangings Exhibition is featured in the Great Hall each year from Memorial Day to Labor Day

Operating Hours

Open Monday through Saturday

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Closed
Sundays and major holidays

Admission is free.

Contact

Main: (304) 558-0220
TDD: (304) 558-3562

The Culture Center
Capitol Complex
1900 Kanawha Boulevard East
Charleston, WV 25305-0300

Artists’ Register

Museum Events

Importance of Arts to Our Cultural History

When we talk about the value of arts and culture to society, we always start with its intrinsic value: how arts and culture can illuminate our inner lives and enrich our emotional world. This activity encompasses a broad range of disciplines that ranges from performing arts production and presentation, to visual arts exhibition, to arts education and arts in healthcare, to preservation and interpretation of our collective heritage. This is what we cherish.

However, we also understand that arts and culture have a wider, more measurable impact on our economy, health and wellbeing, society, and education. It is important we also recognize this impact to help people think of our arts and culture for what they are: a strategic national resource.

Essentially, life without the collective resources of our arts communities would be static and sterile—no creative arguments about the past, no diverse and stimulating present and no dreams of the future.

For more information about our current, upcoming or past exhibitions, contact Sidney Duncan, Exhibits Coordinator for the department at (304) 558-0220 or Sidney.L.Duncan@wv.gov.

Current Exhibitions

2026 Governor’s Art Exhibition

Governor Patrick Morrisey and the West Virginia Department of Tourism announced an open invitation for local students to participate in the annual Governor’s Art Exhibition. Designed to showcase student creativity and the arts, this year’s exhibition was a call for one-of-a-kind designs celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation and the many contributions of West Virginia. The contest was open to all West Virginia students in grades Kindergarten through 12th, including public, private, and homeschool students. All designs are on display for public viewing in the State Capitol. 

Tracing Grace: The Life and Art of Grace Martin Taylor (1903-1995)

Explore the remarkable legacy of Grace Martin Taylor, a pioneering Morgantown-born artist and educator, whose six-decade career seamlessly bridged realism with abstraction. Her captivating paintings, prints, and collages, infused with her Appalachian heritage and bold use of color and form, have been showcased nationally and are featured in esteemed collections, including at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, West Virginia University, and West Virginia State Museum. A selection of her renowned artwork is currently on exhibit in the Museum Gallery of the Culture Center, offering a unique opportunity to trace her profound impact on the art world.

The Artwork of Susan Poffenbarger

West Virginia artist Susan Gidley Poffenbarger was the recipient of numerous West Virginia Juried Art Exhibition awards over the years. In 1999, her painting, titled Blue Ridge and Cedars was awarded the D. Gene Jordon Memorial Award, the highest possible honor. She was also the recipient of the Governor’s Award and the Award of Excellence—each award prestigious enough for her works to become part of the West Virginia State Museum collection. View beautiful creations made by the award-winning artist on exhibit now by the West Virginia State Museum and the West Virginia Department of Tourism in her memory.

Upcoming Exhibits

2026 Veterans Art Show

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation, the West Virginia Department of Tourism and West Virginia State Museum are proud to present the 2026 Veterans Art Show. West Virginia veterans were invited to submit works of art honoring both our national and local heritage through the lens of their unique and creative perspectives forged by their experiences at home and abroad. As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, we invite you to explore these works of art and join us in honroing the immense talent and dedication of West Virginia’s veteran community.

An opening reception for the exhibit will be held at the Culture Center on May 9, 2026 beginning at 2 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. The exhibit will be on display in Museum Gallery of the West Virginia Culture Center from May 9, 2026 through August 22, 2026.

2026 Annual Quilts and Wall Hangings Juried Exhibition

The West Virginia Department of Tourism will open the 45th annual Quilts and Wall Hangings Juried Exhibition on Friday, May 22 with an awards ceremony at the annual Vandalia Gathering at the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex. The free summer-long exhibition will be displayed in the Great Hall of the Culture Center.

Past Exhibits

Click here to view current and past West Virginia Department of Tourism exhibits and exhibitions. The West Virginia Department of Tourism youth programs exhibits can be viewed here.