Cumming Arts Center inspiration exhibit closes as new show opens

The Cumming Arts Center's invitational exhibit Inspiration, which ran Dec. 4 through Jan. 11, 2026, concluded its final days this past weekend. The show brought work from member artists and local contributors into the gallery space, continuing the center's role as a hub for visual arts in Forsyth County.

Starting Jan. 14, the center will open Nostalgic, a new exhibit scheduled to run through March 14, 2026. The center's calendar and exhibit pages list event details, membership information, visitor hours, and calls for entries for the upcoming show, providing local artists a clear pathway to submit work and residents an easy way to plan visits.

For many residents, community arts programming is more than entertainment. Local galleries like the Cumming Arts Center create low-barrier spaces for social connection, creative expression, and informal learning. Those community benefits intersect with public health by supporting mental well-being and reducing social isolation, especially for older adults and people with limited access to cultural resources. The center's programming and open exhibits also offer visibility and economic opportunity for local artists at a time when small arts organizations play an outsized role in keeping creative economies alive.

At the same time, access to arts programming highlights wider questions of equity in Forsyth County. Community members without reliable internet, transportation, or flexible work schedules may be unable to take advantage of gallery hours or online submission windows. Local nonprofits and policymakers considering cultural funding can view places like the Cumming Arts Center as community health partners as well as cultural institutions. Supporting outreach, subsidized membership, and transportation options would help ensure exhibits serve the broadest possible audience.

Practical details and next steps are available through the center's online calendar and exhibit pages, which list visitor hours, membership options, and contact information for artist submissions. Members and nonmembers alike can plan for openings, workshops, and related activities that typically accompany new exhibits.

The takeaway? Local art keeps conversation and connection alive in Cumming. If you missed Inspiration, mark your calendar for Nostalgic and consider how showing up at the gallery can be both enjoyable and a small act of civic health. Our two cents? Bring a friend, check the center's hours online, and think about whether donating time or dollars could help make the arts more accessible to neighbors who need them most.