Second Street Gallery

About this place

Second Street Gallery, Central Virginia's oldest nonprofit 501(c)3 contemporary art space, has been a vibrant cultural hub since its founding in 1973. This gallery is dedicated to showcasing contemporary artists through professional exhibitions and fostering an appreciation for contemporary art within the community. You can engage with art through various educational programs, including lectures, workshops, classes, and tours. The gallery presents 10-14 distinct exhibitions each year, complemented by a robust calendar of outreach activities designed to enrich the exhibition season. Originally established by a group of ten artists affiliated with the University of Virginia and the local community, Second Street Gallery played a pivotal role as the first art space in Downtown Charlottesville, contributing significantly to the revitalization of the Historic District. Today, it resides within the City Center for Contemporary Arts building, a structure completed in 2003 and also home to Live Arts, a community theater, and Light House, a youth media organization. The gallery's primary mission is to invigorate Virginia by providing access to the finest contemporary art and artists, striving to inspire fresh perspectives and new approaches to thinking, seeing, and doing. When you visit, you'll find Second Street Gallery conveniently located on the Historic Downtown Mall, on the ground floor of the City Center for Contemporary Arts. Parking is made easy with an hourly parking lot directly across the street and the Water Street Parking Garage nearby. Additional street parking is available, as is the Market Street Parking Garage on the opposite side of the Downtown Mall. For those using public transit, stops at E Water St at 3rd St SE and 2nd St SW at the Downtown Mall are within easy reach.