Discover the Southeast’s art museums, collectives and galleries from home or safely in person.
Known for its rich history, beautiful beaches and southern charm, the US’s southeast region boasts several art museums and collectives that celebrate locally and globally recognized artisans. Discover the Southeast’s expansive art scene at home or on-site.
North Carolina Museum of Art (Raleigh, NC)
The North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) puts all its arts education resources at educators’ and students’ disposal. Learn how artists from ancient civilizations used art to document cultural identities and symbols. Virtual tourists will have the opportunity to engage with several pieces during their program with a seasoned museum educator and pre-visit resources. The museum also offers an entire catalog of at-home experiences such as self-guided exhibition tours that include supplemental lesson plans and videos. NCMA provides opportunities to explore some of the world’s earliest examples of art right from the comfort of your own home.
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest (Clermont, KY)
The Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest poses whether life imitates art or art imitates life. Spanning over 16,000 acres of land, Bernheim infuses the natural world with larger-than-life sculptures created with recycled wood from the region. The site offers nature-based student group tours that merge art and science into a nearly two-hour tour. From learning how sustainability can inspire good design to exploring the sights and sounds of the site’s three artificial giants, students will be able to draw upon their engineering and design skills to interpret art in the natural world.
Credit: Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
OZ Arts (Nashville, TN)
OZ Arts in Nashville offers a large selection of virtual experiences to meet your class’s artistic needs. Take students on a journey through the history of America’s longest-running dance festival. Listen to a collection of writings inspired by the imagery and subject matter of OZ’s favorite performances. The OZ offers virtual performances, films, podcasts and reading material that are student-friendly and engaging. The collective also provides its performances on several streaming services, perfect for groups that may not be able to engage with the material during class time. Its virtual learning material collection is just as magical as its in-person spectaculars, allowing students to have fun while learning about the performing arts.
The Presbytère (New Orleans, LA)
Since the 1830s, New Orleans has held street processions of decorated maskers and over-the-top floats in celebration of Fat Tuesday, or better known by its French translation, Mardi Gras. It encapsulates all that is the arts. Presbytère is an extension of the Louisiana State Museum that traces Louisiana’s history of the festival. The permanent exhibit, “Mardi Gras: It’s Carnival Time in Louisiana,” documents the long-held tradition through art and music relics. The museum offers field trips, scavenger hunts and lesson plans to student groups free of charge.
Cummer Museum (Jacksonville, FL)
The Cummer Museum is home to more than 5,000 works of art and a riverfront sculpture garden that bears notable landscape designers and horticulturists’ marks. Experience what the museum offers within its walls and beyond through its various virtual and in-person tour experiences. Experience the museum from home through interactive self-guided tours that examine the state of Florida’s contributions to contemporary art. Learn about works ranging from Ancient Egyptian stele to paintings by 20th-century American artists from the heart of the site. These tours offer a way for students to learn art history in several formats.
Credit: The Cummer Museum
The High Museum of Art (Atlanta, GA)
The High Museum’s beginnings can be traced back to a residential home on Peachtree Street in Atlanta, Georgia. The museum has since then grown into one of the Southeast region’s leading art museums. The High now offers its favorite collections from its selection of nearly 18,000 works of art to students and educators. Each virtual tour includes a pre-recorded tour of the museum, an engagement activity and a downloadable slideshow featuring relevant key images. The museum also offers a plethora of virtual resources outside of its tour experiences, allowing educators to choose the best programming for their students.
Lowe Mill Arts and Entertainment (Huntsville, AL)
Originally home to textile mill workers, Lowe Mill Arts and Entertainment now houses the studios of over 200 Alabamian artists disciplined in multimedia, ceramics, photography and more. As the largest privately-owned arts facility in the South, Lowe Mill grants visitors the unique opportunity to witness artwork transform from initial design to final product. View the artwork in any of the site’s seven galleries while surrounded by the artists responsible for the exhibits. The site also offers an open studio night, where both visiting and resident artists exhibit their art throughout the site.
