Exhibits
The Maria V Howard Arts Center
Art That Tells a Story
Exhibit Dates: June 2026-September 6, 2026
This exhibit coincides with the Children’s Museum Traveling Exhibit https://imperialcentre.org/
This is a fun way to take your time in looking at the art and use your imagination! For more information, contact Joyce Turner, Arts Program Coordinator at [email protected].
People’s Choice Tri-County Art Show
The show runs June 28-September 6, 2026. Public Voting begins June 28th and runs through August 1st. Winners are announced on August 7, 2026.
This show will feature art from Nash, Edgecombe, and Wilson Artists. The public may come in person to vote once a day. Drop by the gallery shop in the Maria V Howard Arts Center at the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences and write in the assigned number for your favorite work of art. Come support our local artists! Our gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 am-5 pm and Sunday, 1 pm-5 pm. For more information, contact Arts Program Coordinator, Emily Joyce Turner, [email protected]
Kids’ Day Student Art Exhibit
Exhibit Runs July 13-September 6, 2026
One Winner from Each Category Announced at Kids’ Day Celebration, July 13th, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Kids’ Day is organized by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Chi Omega Chapter in partnership with the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences and sponsored by the City of Rocky Mount. The day of activities showcase STEAM activities and current exhibits from the Children’s Museum and the Maria V. Howard Arts Center.
The student art exhibit has four categories of prek-2nd, 3rd-5th grade, 6th-8th grade, and 9th-12th grade. Prizes are awarded. For more information on how to enter a child’s work of art, contact Joyce Turner, Arts Program Coordinator at Emily Joyce Turner, [email protected]
Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition
Featuring, Artist, Mike Winstead and Selections From Our Permanent Collection
Come view new works by artist Mike Winstead and selections from our permanent collection on the grounds of the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences! For more information, contact Joyce Turner, Arts Program Coordinator at Emily Joyce Turner, [email protected]
Selections from Maria V. Howard Arts Center Permanent Collection on Display at Braswell Memorial Library
Curated by Stephan Daniels
June-December 2026
The selections featured from the permanent collection are a collection of paintings portraying life in Havana.
More Exhibits to Be Announced Including Handcrafted Juried Art Show!
Dates TBA
Check Back for Announcements at our Website Imperialcentre.org
Permanent Collection
The Arts Center Permanent Collection consists of 500+ works by artists primarily from North Carolina and the southeast. The collection includes key regional artists such as Frances Speight, Sarah Blakeslee, Ben Owen, Sr., Mark Hewitt, Cynthia Bringle, Billie Ruth Sudduth, Hobson Pittman and Louis Orr. Acquisitions are funded through the City of Rocky Mount and private donations.
| Exhibit | Season |
| Remnants of a Technical World | Spring 2021 |
| Black History Month | February 2021 |
| North Carolina Clay from the Permanent Art Collection | December 2020 |
| Lena Bulluck Davis | November 2020 |
| Sculpture Salmagundi XXIV (2020-2021) Digital Exhibit and Virtual Reception | October 2020 |
| Women of a New Tribe | September 2020 |
| Juried Art Show | Summer 2020 |
| Markings of Wildness: Anne Willson | Spring 2020 |