Why the Wake County Teen Art Exhibition Draws Cary's Attention Every May
The 16th Annual Wake County Teen Art Exhibition runs May 6-27, 2026, at the Frankie G. Weems Gallery, Meredith College, Raleigh NC.
Cary has no shortage of events - but every now and then, one stands out. This May, more than 100 student works from roughly 50 Wake County schools will hang in a real gallery, judged by real professionals, with $20,000 in awards on the line. For a lot of these teenagers, it will be the first time their art has been seen by more than a classroom.
Parents and students can learn more details here:
The Fine Arts League of Cary has been running this exhibition since 2011. Founded in 1996, FALC is a Cary-based nonprofit that has spent nearly three decades building space for visual arts in a region where, as they put it, science and technology tend to attract most of the funding and attention.
📢 In Their Own Words
"Supporting young artists means investing in curiosity, imagination, and confidence," said Dr. Allan Acton of Cary Family Dental, the presenting sponsor. "These are qualities that shape not only creative minds, but thoughtful, engaged citizens."
More Than a School Project
What sets this show apart is how it works. Art teachers from across Wake County hand-pick the student pieces that get submitted. Those works are then professionally curated and displayed at the Frankie G. Weems Gallery on the Meredith College campus - a real gallery setting that students can list on a resume or college application.
The exhibition is open to the broader community, not just school families. And about half of the award money goes directly back to school art programs, helping teachers buy supplies that tight budgets often can't cover. Awards this year come from FALC, Cary Family Dental, Jerry's Artarama, Cary Visual Arts, and Meredith College scholarships.
"Supporting young artists means investing in curiosity, imagination, and confidence," said Dr. Allan Acton of Cary Family Dental, the presenting sponsor. "These are qualities that shape not only creative minds, but thoughtful, engaged citizens."
Exhibition Dates: May 6-27, 2026
Reception and Awards Ceremony: Saturday, May 10, 2026
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Frankie G. Weems Gallery, Meredith College, Raleigh NC
Tickets / Registration: Free to attend
The public is welcome at both the full exhibition run and the May 10 reception. The reception is where student award winners are recognized, so if you want to see the moment a teenager finds out they won, that's the day to go.
Ready to see the exhibition in person?
The 16th Annual Wake County Teen Art Exhibition is free and open to the public May 6-27. The awards reception on May 10 is the best day to go if you want to see students recognized for their work.
About the Fine Arts League of Cary
Founded in 1996, the Fine Arts League of Cary is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
promoting the visual arts and fostering artistic growth through exhibitions, workshops, and community events in the region.
For more information
For interviews, press inquiries, or high-resolution images of selected works, contact:
Gil Arnold
Phone: 919-812-4249
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.fineartsleagueofcary.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/FineArtsLeagueOfCary
Instagram: www.instagram.com/FineArtsLeagueCary
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