Featured Exhibits

Operating Hours

Open Monday through Saturday

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Closed
Sundays and major holidays

Admission is free.

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Contact

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

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

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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 Congressional Art Competition

West Virginia high schoolers across the state were invited to participate in the 2026 Congressional Art Competition as we continue our tradition of honoring Youth Art Month at the West Virginia State Museum in 2026. Each March, Youth Art Month is celebrated at the West Virginia Culture Center by displaying outstanding, original works of art from our young artists across the state. The winner from each congressional district will have their artwork displayed at the United States Capitol for one year in the Congressional Art Competition, as well as receive a $100 Blick Art Materials gift card. The first place winners will be framed by the Department of Tourism for display at the Capitol. Second place winners will also be awarded a $50 Blick Art Materials gift card. This exhibit is on display at the Culture Center in the Balcony Gallery.

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. 

A Century of History & Beauty: Celebrating 100 Years of the Governor’s Mansion

For 100 years, the West Virginia Governor’s Mansion has welcomed visitors with grace and tradition. Nestled along the banks of the Kanawha River, the stately home has welcomed dignitaries and hosted historic moments since 1925. Experience a look behind the scenes at its grandeur, stories, and see the beauty that shaped a century of leadership and tradition in a special exhibit currently featured in the Theater Gallery of the Culture Center.

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 has announced the 2026 Veterans Art Show. West Virginia veterans are encouraged to submit works of art honoring both our national and local heritage. All designs will be on display for public viewing in the West Virginia Culture Center Museum Gallery beginning May 9, 2026.

Entrants must be a United States veteran and a current resident of West Virginia. Prizes will be given to the top three designs, and the winning piece will be added to the permanent collection of the West Virginia State Museum. All entries must be submitted by March 27, 2026.

For more information and to download the submission form, please click here.

2026 Annual Juried Quilts and Wall Hangings Juried Exhibition

The West Virginia Department of Tourism will begin accepting submissions for the 2026 Quilt and Wall Hangings Juried Exhibition on Monday, March 23, 2026 until Friday, April 24, 2026.

This is the 45th year for the exhibition, which will open 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.

Quilts and wall hangings can be mailed or hand delivered to the Culture Center. Quilts and wall hangings, handmade or machine made, by West Virginia residents are eligible for the exhibition.  Special consideration will be given to hand-quilted entries. Entrants may submit one quilt and one wall hanging. A nonrefundable fee of $20 per quilt or wall hanging, made payable to the West Virginia Department of Tourism, must be submitted with each entry label. Online payment options are available here. Quilts and wall hangings shown previously in a Department Quilts and Wall Hangings juried exhibition are not eligible.

For more information and to download the submission form, please click here.

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.