Public Programs & Community Collaborations
From free artist talks and hands-on programs for students to exhibitions, public art, and community collaborations, Starworks creates ways for art to connect with people both on our campus and beyond it. Some projects are rooted in our own programs, while others are made possible through partnerships with municipalities, nonprofits, schools, artists, and communities.
Explore some of Starworks’ public programs, past projects, and collaborations below. Click on the links to learn more about each one.
Interested in working with us? Email project information to contact@starworksnc.org to get started.
Artist Talks
Our free Artist Talk series brings visiting artists into conversation with the community. These informal lectures offer an opportunity to hear directly from artists about their work, processes, ideas, and experiences, followed by time for questions and conversation.
Learn more here.
Exhibitions
Starworks presents exhibitions throughout the year featuring the work of artists working across glass, ceramics, metal, and other media. Exhibitions are free and open to the public six days a week, Monday through Saturday, 9am–5pm.
View past exhibitions here.
Kids Draw It, We Make It
Each year, K–5 students are invited to imagine something they would like to see made in glass. Starworks artists then select a student design to bring to life in the hot shop, connecting young students with professional artists and giving them a firsthand look at how an idea becomes a work of art.
Learn more here.
Spin, Weave, Gather - Nancy Callan
Spin, Weave, Gather was an exhibition by artist Nancy Callan, developed and installed with support from Starworks at the Mint Museum in Charlotte, NC. The exhibition brought together Callan’s intricate glasswork and a broader exploration of craft, material, and making.
Learn more about this project here.
Glass House - Therman Statom
Created in collaboration with artist Therman Statom, this public art project transformed Starworks’ front lawn into an interactive installation. The glass house offered visitors a place to encounter art outdoors while exploring Statom’s ideas about architecture, community, and the spaces we share.
Learn more here.
Pinecone Pathways
A collaboration with Moore County, Pinecone Pathways brings art into shared public spaces and creates opportunities for residents and visitors to encounter creative work throughout the community.
Learn more here.
The Salmon School - Joe Rossano
Starworks has participated in The Salmon School, an international multimedia art project focused on the conservation of salmon and steelhead and the waterways they depend on. The project brings together glass artists, scientists, Indigenous voices, and environmental advocates to use art as a way to spark conversation about threatened ecosystems.
Learn more here.
Reid Heart Center Installation
Starworks designed and created a glass installation for the Reid Heart Center, bringing artwork made by Starworks artists into a healthcare environment and creating a lasting connection between art, place, and community.
Learn more here.
Western North Carolina Relief Residencies
In 2025, following the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene across Western North Carolina, Starworks created a needs-based residency opportunity for artists whose creative practices and livelihoods were affected by the storm.
The Western North Carolina Relief Residencies provided artists with time, studio access, tools, and resources to continue making work while rebuilding and recovering. The program connected artists with the Starworks community and offered space to focus on their creative practices during a difficult period of recovery.