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 Chuck Ocheltree, Museum Operations Manager for the department at (304) 558-0220 or Charles.C.Ocheltree@wv.gov.

Current Exhibitions

Inspired: West Virginia Landscapes

The West Virginia Landscapes exhibit is the first installation of Inspired: A West Virginia Series of Juried Exhibitions, featuring four different West Virginia themes. Thirteen West Virginia artists, representing nine counties, were selected for the West Virginia Landscapes show, which features 21 pieces of various mediums, including painting, drawing, photography, mixed media, craft and print. The exhibit will remain on display in the Commissioner’s Gallery at the Culture Center until mid-June 2024.

This series of exhibitions will be featured over the next two years in honor of the upcoming 250th anniversary, or Semiquincentennial, of the United States of America. The other three exhibits will be titled Historic Buildings and StructuresWildlife, and Historic and Prominent West Virginia People.

For more information or if you are interested in submitting artwork for the upcoming shows, contact Chuck Ocheltree, Museum Operations Manager for the department, at (304) 558-0220 or Charles.C.Ocheltree@wv.gov.

2024 Congressional Art Competition

The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History and the offices of Representatives Carol Miller and Alex Mooney invited high school students to enter their two-dimensional artwork into the 2024 statewide Congressional Art Competition, a partnership between the West Virginia Congressional Delegation and the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History. The opening of this exhibition was celebrated with a student workshop, luncheon, and awards ceremony on February 23, 2024. Six West Virginia high school students were selected as winners in this year’s statewide Congressional Art Competition. The first-place winner of each of the two congressional districts will have their art represent West Virginia in a year-long Congressional Art Competition exhibition at the United States Capitol building in Washington, DC.

This exhibition is sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History in celebration of National Youth Art Month and will remain on display in Balcony Gallery of the Culture Center until April 1, 2024.

The 23rd Biennial West Virginia Juried Exhibition

The 23rd Biennial West Virginia Juried Exhibition is featured in all three of the Culture Center’s galleries. Sixty-six West Virginia artists were selected for the exhibit, which features 89 pieces that include painting, drawing, mixed media, craft, photography, digital art, sculpture, and print. Thirty counites are represented in the show. This exhibit will remain at the Culture Center until February 2024.

Governor’s Almost Heaven Art Exhibition

The Governor’s annual Almost Heaven Art Exhibition is featured at the State Capitol. This exhibition features public, private, and home school K-12 West Virginia student artwork. This year’s theme features one-of-a-kind postcard designs that illustrate stargazing at favorite West Virginia parks and public lands. Selected artwork will later be used by the Department of Tourism to personally invite travelers to Almost Heaven.

Upcoming Exhibits

2024 Quilts and Wall Hangings Juried Exhibition

The 43rd annual Quilts and Wall Hangings Exhibition will open in the Great Hall at the Culture Center on Friday, May 24, 2024 with an awards ceremony at the annual Vandalia Gathering at the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex. The free summer-long exhibition will be displayed through September 9, 2024. Entry information and the prospectus can be found at https://bit.ly/3T6QZpy. For more information, please contact Chuck Ocheltree, Museum Operations Manager for the department, at (304) 558-0220 or Charles.C.Ocheltree@wv.gov.

Inspired: A West Virginia Series of Juried Exhibitions

This 4-part series of exhibitions will be featured over the next two years in honor of the upcoming 250th anniversary, or Semiquincentennial, of the United States of America. The upcoming three exhibits will be titled Historic Buildings and StructuresWildlife, and Historic and Prominent West Virginia People.

For more information or if you are interested in submitting artwork for the upcoming shows, contact Chuck Ocheltree, Museum Operations Manager for the department, at (304) 558-0220 or Charles.C.Ocheltree@wv.gov.

Submissions for the West Virginia Historic Buildings and Structures will begin April 8, 2024. The prospectus and entry information and can be found at https://bit.ly/3IrGHuY.

Past Exhibits

Click here to view current and past Department of Arts, Culture and History exhibits and exhibitions. The Department of Arts, Culture and History youth programs exhibits can be viewed here.