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Serving Carolina and Kure Beaches Come Be Part of the Arts!
What's Happening!
Bella Vita "Island Vibe Gallery" May 1st to Sept. 8th
Crush & Grind Exhibition Bryan Palumbo
Crush & Grind Exhibition Bryan Palumbo
Bella Vita "Island Vibe Gallery" May 1st to Sept. 8th
Crush & Grind Exhibition Bryan Palumbo
Bryan Palumbo's beautiful artwork is on display for May 28th to July 1st, 2026.
Join us on June 5th from 3 to 5:30 pm to meet Bryan and discuss his creative process.
Come Be Part of the Arts!!
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Bella Vita "Island Vibe Gallery" May 1st to Sept. 8th
Bella Vita "Island Vibe Gallery" May 1st to Sept. 8th
Bella Vita "Island Vibe Gallery" May 1st to Sept. 8th
7 amazing local artists are displaying their work though the summer.
Come meet the artists on June 2nd from 5pm to 7pm at Bella Vita (formally Uncle Vinney's) and enjoy some appetizers while browsing.
Click the button below to peek at some of the artwork!
Rhonda Lee, Cathy Spiegel, Renee Whitley, Nance Donaton, Beverly Andrews, Rick Welch, Tracy Lucas, Carla Cardwell
WECT Interview Randy Aldridge and Carol Geary
WECT Interview Randy Aldridge and Carol Geary
Bella Vita "Island Vibe Gallery" May 1st to Sept. 8th
Watch this interview with Carol Geary about Echoes of Place, Gallery Exhibition.
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Call for Artists
WECT Interview Randy Aldridge and Carol Geary
Call for Artists
DEADLINE EXTENDED
Due to issues with the Online Registration, we have exted the Deadline to June 15th
Island Arts Council is proud to celebrate the beauty and stories of Cape Fear region with the new 2026 Regional Juried Art Exhibition, Echoes of Place: Artists’ Reflections of New Hanover County. The exhibition will be held August 1–15, 20
DEADLINE EXTENDED
Due to issues with the Online Registration, we have exted the Deadline to June 15th
Island Arts Council is proud to celebrate the beauty and stories of Cape Fear region with the new 2026 Regional Juried Art Exhibition, Echoes of Place: Artists’ Reflections of New Hanover County. The exhibition will be held August 1–15, 2026, at Fort Fisher State Historic Site in Kure Beach, North Carolina.
Artists of all disciplines are invited to submit original works that interpret the distinctive character of New Hanover County — its maritime heritage, coastal beauty, historic landmarks, and the communities that have shaped this remarkable region. The call for artists opens March 1, 2026, with a submission deadline of June 1, 2026.
Set against the storied backdrop of Fort Fisher State Historic Site, this exhibition pairs artistic expression with the rich history of New Hanover County. Works selected for the show will reflect the places, people, and stories that define this region — from the Civil War earthworks of Fort Fisher to the vibrant waterfront communities of Wilmington and the quiet shores of Pleasure Island.
To ensure historical rigor, the Council is partnering with esteemed historian Dr. Jan Davidson, whose education provides a foundational resource for artists seeking to interpret the region’s complex past—from the ramparts of Fort Fisher to the modern spirit of Pleasure Island and surrounding areas.
The gallery will be curated by Gayle Tustin, an acclaimed artist and arts educator with deep roots in the North Carolina coastal arts community. Tustin brings a discerning eye and a commitment to honoring authentic, place-based artistic expression. Her choices will showcase works that deeply explore the exhibition’s themes of memory, identity, and place.
Island Arts Council welcomes submissions from emerging and established artists across all media, including painting, photography, printmaking, drawing, sculpture, and mixed media. Works must be original, created within the past three years, and directly inspired by New Hanover County.
For more information:
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IAC June Social!
WECT Interview Randy Aldridge and Carol Geary
Call for Artists
IAC Member Felice Kite's Popup Events
Oceanside Art and Gifts BUOY 2026 Island Arts Council Sponsor
Oceanside Art and Gifts BUOY 2026 Island Arts Council Sponsor
Oceanside Art and Gifts BUOY 2026 Island Arts Council Sponsor
Oceanside Art and Gifts BUOY 2026 Island Arts Council Sponsor
Oceanside Art and Gifts BUOY 2026 Island Arts Council Sponsor
We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Camile and Kurt Mayer of Oceanside Art and Gifts as our very first 2026 Buoy Sponsors!
This exciting new program supports youth arts programs and awards.
Thanks to their generosity, we will be granting two Francine Hall Youth Awards this year!
These funds also allow us to purchase supplies for fun, han
We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Camile and Kurt Mayer of Oceanside Art and Gifts as our very first 2026 Buoy Sponsors!
This exciting new program supports youth arts programs and awards.
Thanks to their generosity, we will be granting two Francine Hall Youth Awards this year!
These funds also allow us to purchase supplies for fun, hands-on youth activities at community events.
Thank you, Oceanside Art and Gifts, for your continued dedication to the arts in our community!
About Island Arts Council Sponsorships
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Hurricane Alley's HORIZON 2026 Island Arts Council Sponsor
Oceanside Art and Gifts BUOY 2026 Island Arts Council Sponsor
Hurricane Alley's HORIZON 2026 Island Arts Council Sponsor
Our deepest gratitude to Hurricane Alley's Michelle Alberda for becoming our HORIZON 2026 Island Arts Sponsor.
As a HORIZON sponsor Hurricane Alley's supports: Art in the Yard, Casino Night, Rotating Exhibitions, Tidal Walk Popup Art Show!
This year we introduced an Annual Sponsorship Program to enable local businesses to expand their comm
Our deepest gratitude to Hurricane Alley's Michelle Alberda for becoming our HORIZON 2026 Island Arts Sponsor.
As a HORIZON sponsor Hurricane Alley's supports: Art in the Yard, Casino Night, Rotating Exhibitions, Tidal Walk Popup Art Show!
This year we introduced an Annual Sponsorship Program to enable local businesses to expand their community marketing contributions across the many IAC events and programs.
Businesses benefit with an opportunity to connect and engage directly with potential clients while supporting our island’s vibrant arts community.
Sponsorships can make an impact and encourage community artists and economic development through the arts.
Help us to facilitate the growth of our community into a regional arts destination!
Featured Artist of the month
Barbara Buckley
Barbara Buckley is a versatile artist who work captures the essence of the subject with expressive color and loose brushwork; mostly in watercolor but also the use of charcoal, pastels, ink, acrylic, and clay.
She has attended workshops for over 35 years to challenge her creativity and experiment with different techniques; currently enrolled in classes at Cameron Art Museum and UNCW’s OLLI program.
Barbara recently retired from an administrative career and excitedly joined the Wilmington chapter of Urban Sketchers, a global community of sketchers dedicated to the practice of “on-location” drawing.
Her watercolor of Wilmington’s historic Latimer House was selected to be the ticket cover design of the 2024 Old Wilmington By Candlelight Tour.
In 2025 she joined the Island Arts Council and became the Board of Directors’ Chairperson in 2026 (back to that administrative career!).
She enjoys sharing her art via commissioning work that has reached many clients across the USA and as far as Belgium and Japan.
Lamar Advertising
Thank You Lamar Advertising
We appreciate Lamar Advertising for their support of the Featured Artist of the Month and Island Arts Council's events.
Please look up at the digital billboards as you cross the bridge.
Sponsors
