OUR VISION

VAE envisions a more equitable creative community where everyone has the resources needed to thrive.

OUR MISSION

VAE produces, funds, and exhibits socially-engaged art through community collaboration.

OUR CORE VALUES

- Art has a proven track record of being a powerful tool for creating positive social change. This power is often better understood by the opponents of progressive social change than the artists who are doing the work.

- The person closest to the problem is also the person closest to the solution. The barrier is often in the number of resources available to that person.

- VAE turns over its resources of a knowledgeable staff, space, community standing, access to artists, and funding in an open source way to support community-led and creative solutions.

- Transparency is key to building trust.

- VAE’s open source artistic process allows us to work WITH our community instead of FOR our community. This process creates the most authentic work possible.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

VAE Raleigh is a nonprofit community cultural arts organization. VAE was founded by a small group of dedicated artists in 1980. Though our name has changed and the organization has grown, VAE stays true to its core goal of developing a vibrant, equitable, and well-resourced creative community.

VAE supports artists by providing: a platform to showcase their worK educational resources to expand their creative careers funding for their most ambitious ideas and connections to the resources needed to thrive.

VAE works to make all of our exhibitions, programs, and facilities accessible to all people who appreciate creativity!

VISIT US

VAE’s main galleries and offices are located downtown. We are located at 228 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh NC 27601. Our storefront faces Fayetteville Street with paid street parking on both sides of the street. There is a curb cut and crosswalk across from the gallery and all galleries are located on a single story. There is flexible seating available throughout the space and an accessible restroom. Staff members are readily available to assist with any additional accommodations you may need! We ask that visitors requesting an audio-described or ASL-translated tour of the gallery request these accommodations two weeks prior to their visit, if possible.

EXHIBIT WITH US

While VAE’s gallery space is fully accessible and we strive to make all of our calls-for-art and the entry submission process accessible as well. If you need any additional information or accommodations in order to enter a call-for-art please email Ant Lobo-Ladd or call 919.828.7834 for assistance (please leave a voicemail).

BE AN ADVOCATE

VAE would like to invite passionate members of the community to work with our staff and board to increase VAE’s accessibility and inclusion of artists and patrons with disabilities. If you have suggestions, criticisms, or would like to be involved in increasing VAE’s accessibility email Ant Lobo-Ladd or call 919.828.7834 (please leave a voicemail).

If you have any additional questions, get in touch with Ant.

Want to stay up to date on all things VAE? Sign up for our newsletter! (We promise we won’t spam you)