It was founded in 1978 by a local artist because “there was no gallery in North Carolina showing avant-garde art.”
The mission of the Upstairs is to aid the development, understanding, and appreciation of contemporary art and craft forms in order to enrich the cultural life of the region. The Upstairs is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The Upstairs has exhibited hundreds of regional artists as
well as artists from other parts of the United States. The Upstairs was in three “upstairs” locations between 1978 and 1986. That is why it is called the Upstairs. The Upstairs is “owned and operated” by its current Board of Directors, many members, volunteers and a staff consisting
of an Executive Director, Gallery Manager, Sponsorship Coordinator, Graphic Artist, and several collegiate interns. The Upstairs is funded through art sales, grants, private and corporate donations, and fundraising events. The Upstairs has three interior galleries with a total of about 3000 square feet of exhibition space. Exhibits are changed every six to eight weeks. The Upstairs welcomes students and senior citizens and encourages their participation in gallery activities. The Upstairs Artspace is “more than just an art gallery.” It is a cultural center with art education programs, workshops, musical concerts, plays, dance, film, the monthly Literary Open Stage, and much more!
