Southeastern Museums Conference-SEMC

SEMC 2026: Diggs Gallery/Delta Arts Center Tour

Enjoy a two-stop cultural experience highlighting Winston-Salem’s vibrant arts community. Participants will travel by bus to Diggs Gallery on the campus of Winston-Salem State University and then across East Winston to Delta Arts Center.

Guests will hear a brief introduction to the longstanding connection between these two historic institutions. At Delta Arts Center, participants will experience PARTED, curated by Davita Galloway and Nadia Meadows. This immersive, multisensory exhibition honors the art, history, and evolution of Black hair—from the intricacy of cornrows to the symbolism of the afro, from hot combs to lace fronts—exploring how Black hair tells stories of identity, innovation, resistance, and beauty.

Pre-registration is required.

SEMC 2026 - Winston-Salem Spotlight: Happy Hill Neighborhood

Nestled just south of downtown Winston-Salem, Happy Hill is one of the city’s oldest and most historically significant African American neighborhoods. Established in the years following the Civil War, the community grew from land once tied to the Moravian settlement of Salem and became a place where formerly enslaved people built homes, churches, schools, and a strong sense of community.

Originally known as Liberia, the neighborhood became known as Happy Hill by the late 19th century. Residents worked throughout Winston-Salem while creating a vibrant cultural and social life of their own “across the creek” from Salem. Despite decades of segregation, urban renewal, and the demolition of many original homes during the construction of the city’s first public housing project in the 1950s, Happy Hill’s legacy has endured.

Today, Happy Hill is recognized not only for its deep historical roots, but also for ongoing efforts to preserve and celebrate its story through art, restoration projects, and community initiatives. Historic shotgun houses, cultural programs, and neighborhood-led revitalization efforts continue to honor the resilience and contributions of generations of residents who shaped this important Winston-Salem community.

Read more:

Photos: A look back at Happy Hill neighborhood Click here to view this item from journalnow.com.

Let’s celebrate some wins!

What’s one project you’ve worked on this year that you’re proud of?

Submit your project in the SEMC Competitions!

Deadline: June 12, 2026

For more information visit our website, https://www.semcdirect.net/competitions

Start your job search with us and find your happily ever after!