Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art

The [http://www.secca.org/ Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (or SECCA)] , located in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston-Salem,_North_Carolina/ Winston-Salem, N.C.] , is a gallery designed to involve audiences in the art of our time. Because of its excellent exhibits and educational opportunities, SECCA enjoys not only a regional reputation, but also a national and international presence.

Fostering creative excellence, innovation and dialogue through education and discussion, SECCA provides the community the opportunity to explore the dynamic relationship between individuals and contemporary art. Through traveling exhibits, visitors can see cutting edge multi-media artistic interpretations of critical society issues.

SECCA’s role as an institution is to provide services beyond the scope and resources of the region’s smaller galleries and museums, as well as being an innovator in community outreach. SECCA earned accreditation by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Association_of_Museums/ American Association of Museums (AAM)] in 1979 and has maintained this status. SECCA is one of only 300 museums in the United States to earn this distinction. The AAM has called SECCA “an exemplary institution and national leader for promoting contemporary art.”

SECCA was founded in 1956 to provide gallery space for local artists, but has expanded since then to provide a venue for artists from around the world. In December 2007, SECCA became an operating entity of the [http://www.ncartmuseum.org/ North Carolina Museum of Art] , an entity of the [http://www.ncculture.org/ North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources] . Mark Richard Leach was appointed executive director on Dec. 13, 2007. A new board of directors was formed and an expanded professional staff has been recruited.

As a result of these changes, SECCA is entering a new era of cultural productivity and community engagement through the institution’s core values of innovation, collaboration, inclusivity, excellence and diversity. On April 1, 2008, SECCA began offering free admission to make it’s acclaimed exhibitions and programs available to the widest audience possible.

A major renovation project to replace the museum’s roof and climate-control system is planned in 2009. While the gallery will be closed for a time, SECCA will continue it’s programming at-large in the Winston-Salem community, often with its cultural partners. Simultaneously, the art center’s Advisory Board and staff will develop and implement a 3-year strategic plan to guide it’s programmatic and organizational development while energizing SECCA’s image and encouraging residents and tourists alike to think of SECCA as a cutting-edge cultural destination.

SECCA has a vital story to share through the art of our time. The new SECCA will be a reflection of the changing face of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina/ North Carolina’s] interest in contemporary art, craft, design and culture.

External links

* [http://www.secca.org/ Official site]
* [http://www.ncculture.org/ Department of Cultural Resources]
* [http://www.intothearts.org/ The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County]