SECCA: Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art

SECCA is one of the most interesting art spaces in North Carolina, and most people outside of Winston Salem have never heard of it. The building is a 1929 mansion built in the style of an English hunting lodge, sitting on 32 acres of wooded land with a spring fed lake and outdoor sculpture. Inside you will find contemporary and modern art that rotates throughout the year. Admission has always been free. In 2023 the NC General Assembly officially renamed it NCMA Winston Salem, connecting it to the NC Museum of Art system in Raleigh.

The History

The story starts with the building itself. The mansion at 750 Marguerite Drive was built in 1929 for James G. Hanes, a textile industrialist and avid hunter. He designed it in the English hunting lodge style, which gives the whole property a feel that is different from any other museum in the state. The building sits on a 32 acre estate surrounded by mature trees and rolling land.

In 1956 a group of local art supporters founded the Winston Salem Gallery of Fine Arts, which would eventually become SECCA. The Hanes family donated the estate in 1972, giving the gallery a permanent home. A new gallery wing was added in 1976 to give the museum more exhibition space. A major expansion followed in 1990, adding even more room for large scale installations and programming.

The biggest change came in 2023, when the NC General Assembly voted to officially rename SECCA as NCMA Winston Salem. That move made it a formal part of the NC Museum of Art system, which is based in Raleigh.

The Art

SECCA has always focused on contemporary and modern art. For most of its history the museum did not maintain a permanent collection. Instead it relied on rotating exhibitions that brought in work from regional, national, and international artists. The emphasis was on living, working artists rather than historical collections.

That approach made SECCA different from places like Reynolda House, which has a large permanent collection of American art. At SECCA you could visit three times in one year and see completely different work each time. The exhibitions covered painting, sculpture, photography, video, mixed media, and installation art.

Now that the museum is part of the NCMA system, it has the ability to display pieces from the NC Museum of Art's permanent collection. That opens up new possibilities for what you might see on any given visit. The curatorial direction still leans toward contemporary work, but the connection to Raleigh gives the Winston Salem location access to a much larger pool of art.

The Grounds

The 32 acre estate is a big part of what makes this place special. The property is wooded and quiet, with walking paths that wind through the landscape. A spring fed lake sits on the grounds, and outdoor sculpture installations are placed throughout the property. The English hunting lodge mansion serves as the visual centerpiece, but the land around it carries its own weight.

SECCA has hosted concerts, outdoor events, and community gatherings on the lawn for years. The combination of contemporary art inside the building and natural beauty outside creates an experience that feels layered in a way most museums do not.

The NCMA Connection

The 2023 rename was more than just a name change. NCMA Winston Salem now shares a curatorial team with the NC Museum of Art in Raleigh. That means the two locations can coordinate exhibitions, share resources, and move pieces between campuses. For the first time the Winston Salem location can draw from the NCMA's permanent collection, which includes thousands of works spanning centuries.

The goal is to bring more high quality art to the Piedmont Triad without requiring visitors to drive to Raleigh. For Winston Salem, it is a meaningful addition to a city that already has a strong arts identity through places like Reynolda House, the School of the Arts, and the downtown arts district.

The Hanes Family Legacy

James G. Hanes made his fortune in textiles. He was one of the early leaders of the Hanes hosiery business, which became one of the largest employers in Winston Salem. He was also an avid hunter, which is why the mansion was designed in the hunting lodge style. The property was built as a personal retreat, not as an institution, which is part of why it still feels more like a private estate than a public museum.

The Hanes family's impact on Winston Salem extends well beyond this property. James G. Hanes' son Gordon played a key role in creating the UNC School of the Arts, which opened in Winston Salem in 1965 and remains one of the top arts conservatories in the country. The family's support of the arts shaped the city's cultural identity in ways that are still visible today.

Visitor Info

SECCA is located at 750 Marguerite Drive in Winston Salem. Admission is free. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, and closed on Monday and Tuesday. The grounds are accessible during museum hours and are worth walking even if you have limited time inside.

Important note for 2026: The main campus at 750 Marguerite Drive is currently closed for construction. NCMA Winston Salem is operating out of a temporary space on Fourth Street in downtown Winston Salem while the renovation work is underway. Check their website before visiting to confirm the current location and hours.

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