Main Gallery: 2026 Bank of the Arts National Juried Exhibition 2026

September 2026

Craven Arts Council & Gallery is proud to present their signature biennial exhibition, the 2026 Bank of the Arts National Juried Exhibition. This exhibition features over 100 artworks out of over 400 entries, carefully curated by this year’s juror, Ben Billingsley, from the Cameron Art Museum. The exhibition highlights work from 22 states and includes paintings, printmaking, ceramics, photography, woodworking and much more. Artwork selected for the exhibition falls into 5 distinct categories, with a variety of individual themes: 2D paintings and mixed media, Photography, Contemporary Crafts, Indoor Sculpture and Outdoor Sculpture. Bank of the Arts will host a reception for the exhibition at Artwalk on Friday, September 11th from 5 – 8 pm, with awards for the Ekphrastic Poetry Competition announced at 6 pm.

For over 10 years, the Bank of the Arts National Juried Exhibition has provided a platform for local and regional artists to submit artworks amongst nationwide artists in the unique opportunity to display their artworks downtown New Bern. Bank of the Arts is home to the Craven Arts Council & Gallery since 1983, hosting over 20 rotating exhibitions a year in their historic bank building, located on 317 Middle Street, New Bern, NC. The Ekphrastic Poetry Competition is produced alongside the signature exhibition, offering a unique opportunity for poets of all ages to create poetry about exhibition artwork of their choice. All poems will be judged for ranked prizes at the September Artwalk on September 11 th at Bank of the Arts beginning at
6 pm.

For more information on 2026 Bank of the Arts National Juried Exhibition and the Ekphrastic Poetry
Competition, visit cravenarts.org. Visit Bank of the Arts, home of the Craven Arts Council & Gallery, Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm.