Guide To CAM Raleigh [Contemporary Art Museum of Raleigh]

NOTE: As of June 15, CAM Raleigh temporarily paused exhibitions and in-house programming to reflect, reimagine, and redesign their future. CAM will continue to host offsite events and collaborate with partners throughout the Triangle. They will also welcome the return of the Raleigh Fine Arts Society’s annual NC Artists Exhibition this fall, opening September 28.

One thing we love about Raleigh is that it’s a magnet for artists, musicians, writers, and all sorts of creative souls. 

Pioneering Raleigh’s arts scene is CAM Raleigh, also known as the Contemporary Art Museum of Raleigh, a small and free art gallery that connects the community to the creatives, showcasing modern art from regional artists and beyond.

We take many of our visiting guests to CAM when we’re exploring the Warehouse District. We love how it supports local artists, is very inclusive with their exhibits and events, and is small enough to not be an overwhelming art museum experience. We’ve also attended many events in CAM and find it to be a bright, open, and fun community gathering space.

If you’re thinking of visiting CAM Raleigh, here is a brief guide to its history, and what you need to know before you go.

About the Contemporary Art Museum of Raleigh (CAM Raleigh)

CAM Raleigh is a not-for-profit contemporary art museum in downtown Raleigh in the vibrant warehouse district on 409 W. Martin St.

It began in 1910 when the space that CAM Raleigh now occupies was built. Originally, it was a two-story brick warehouse used by Allen Forge & Welding Company, before it was bought and enlarged in 1927 for the Brogden Produce Company. 

In 1997, CAM Raleigh bought the building and put together a plan to turn the 20,000 sq. ft. space into a contemporary art gallery.

The museum was created to offer a space for contemporary artists to display their work and offer educational programs and community events such as artist talks.

A little About the design

Architectural geeks might be interested to know a little about the unique, welcoming design. The new 900-square-foot entryway is all about making a statement. The lobby, with its dramatic glass walls and striking folded-panel roof, creates a stunning first impression.

The roof even stretches out over a sculpture garden, giving off a welcoming “front porch” vibe. Sitting on the east side of the original building, the lobby is a fresh, modern twist on what used to be a loading dock, designed to guide visitors, art, and supplies right into the heart of the main exhibition area.

The design also plays with contrasts—this new asymmetrical layout adds a cool, contemporary edge to the classic symmetry of the historic building. It’s all about bringing the old and new together into one seamless, unified structure.

The gravel space to the side may seem a little bland in contrast, but not when it filled with local artisan warees at the First Friday markets!

Watching over the space is a much loved vibrant mural of Allen Iverson’s mum braiding his hair (recently sparked huge discussion on our Facebook page, with people arguing that it was his Aunt that braided his hair.)

Underneath that mural, hidden behind the bushes is a small Cinderella mural that goes with the larger Remember the Truth Princess mural across the street on the corner.

The CAM Galleries

The gallery has no permanent exhibition, but two galleries showcasing multi-media pieces from regional, national, and international artists. 

As mentioned, CAM is small with only two gallery spaces, upstairs and downstairs. This makes it so easy to enjoy the art and spend time absorbing each piece’s beauty and story. It’s the perfect rainy day activity or thing to do in the winter in Raleigh.

Main Gallery

I’ll never forget the first time I walked into CAMs main gallery and was left awestruck by the floor to ceiling photography of Senegalese women – wisdom and power etched upon their faces. I’ve been wowed over since with each new exhibit and love returning to see what’s next.

The main gallery, which is the largest space, usually changes its exhibit every quarter. The dramatic art is perfect for the Main Gallery’s dramatic space with tall ceilings, showing off the original metal trusses for a cool, industrial vibe.

An original lunette window lets in loads of natural light that even reaches down to the newly added basement gallery below. There’s a perfect gathering space between the levels near the windows that during events, is filled with tasting stations, small bars, and live music.

Since the artwork takes center stage on the walls of the Main Gallery the floor space lends itself well to community events with plenty of space to mingle, eat and dance the night away to live music.

We’ve previously attended First Fridays, Dreamville events, Designed for Joy’s Evening of Giving, and more recently, Celebrate North Carolina, an Inauguration event for the new NC Governor Josh Stein.

Downstairs Gallery

The second gallery, a smaller space called the Independent Weekly Gallery, is a space that focuses on emerging artists and changes weekly, so there is always something new to see.

The downstairs gallery is less open, with more traditional rooms – some are for offices and the catering kitchen. Exhibitions line the wall as you walk down into a couple of exhibit spaces, namely the Media Lab, or Black Box Room, intended to display digital art and other technology.

My daughter and I loved the interactive-colored light sculpture FLAG II by Lincoln Hancock on a mother-teen-daughter outing in downtown Raleigh. The eight colored rainbow is representative of the 1978 pride flag, and is was created in response to HB2, the North Carolina’s legislature’s unjust bathroom bill

Th exhibitions in the downstairs gallery definitely make me think more and are great conversation starters.

2025 CAM Exhibitions

The Power of Community

• When: December 2024 – April 2025

The current exhibit in the main gallery showcases a collection of pieces from artists in the Triangle region. 

Dubbed The Power of Community, this collection is a homage to our talented and diverse range of artists born and raised in our very own backyard.

Some artists featured in this exhibit are Lamar Whidbee, an artist and counselor from rural North Carolina, Burritt “Bucky” E. Benson III, a painter from Lumberton, Delayna Robbins, a painter and illustrator from NC, Karina McMillan, a fine artist from NC, John Dempsey a landscape artist and painter from Raleigh, and Chris Metz, a local documentary photographer.

Arthouse Golden Hour

• When: February 22nd, 2025, 6:00pm – 10:00pm

For one night only, CAM Raleigh will play host to its annual show, Arthouse Golden Hour, which features a blend of contemporary art mediums together for one evening, raising money for the sustainability of the museum.

This year, Arthouse Golden Hour will host a live performance from Cirque du Vol, host a silent auction, have a fabulous DJ, as well as offer food and drinks by local breweries and vineyards, including some themed cocktails.

There are three ticket types:

• $300: VIP Experience with early entry, champagne filled artist hour, and live music.
• $150 Golden Entry (standard ticket includes all of the above0
• $50 Late night DJ 9-11pm

Click here to see more information and secure tickets.

See more events in our event calendar, monthly event guides, and weekend event guide.

Opening Hours and Entrance Fees for CAM Raleigh

CAM Raleigh is free admission and open from the following times for regular entry:

• Monday – Closed
• Tuesday – Closed
• Wednesday – Closed
• Thursday – 10:00am – 5:00pm
• Friday – 10:00am – 5:00pm
• Saturday  – 11:00am – 2:00pm
• Sunday – 11:00am – 5:00pm

CAM Raleigh is often open for special events and exhibitions outside of these hours, check their social media for events. It may also be booked for private functions.

FAQs About CAM Raleigh

Is CAM Raleigh accessible?

CAM Raleigh is accessible and wheelchair friendly. It has two levels, connected by an elevator, plus an accessible ramp to enter the building.

Who is the executive director of CAM Raleigh?

The current executive director of Cam Raleigh is Paul Baker, PhD.

Is CAM Raleigh part of the First Friday scheme?

Yes, CAM Raleigh is often part of the First Friday scheme and hosts mini-exhibitions on the first Friday of the month. These events usually have live music, new art exhibitions from local artists, and lots of good vibes! They usually take place in the evening from 6:00pm – 9:00pm and are free admission. Check their Instagram for information about upcoming events.

What to do near CAM Raleigh

We recommend exploring the Warehouse District while visiting CAM Raleigh.

• BREAKFAST| BRUNCH: A Place at the Table or Press Coffee & Crepes
• COFFEE: We love Heirloom and Black & White Coffee. Pick up chocolate from Videiri while here.)
• LUNCH: Morgan St Food Hall or Pit BBQ
• AFTERNOON DRINK: Crank Arm Brewery, Barcelona Wine Bar or Vita Vite
• DINNER: Taverna Agora or Heirloom Restaurant

Find more ideas in our 48 hour guide to the Warehouse District and our 2 day sophisticated itinerary of Raleigh with friends. And don’t miss these other art galleries and museums in Raleigh. We love the NC Museum of Art and its annual Art in Bloom event (held in March)