Be Someone's Reason to Smile

2025

For over 125 years, the Mitchell’s Hardware has served the local community in historic downtown New Bern. Mitchell’s Hardware is known for its garden, kitchenware, hardware supplies, and unique architecture on the interior. Be Someone’s Reason to Smile Today will enhance the artistic vibrancy of our downtown community and celebrate Mitchell’s Hardware, a longtime supporter of the arts and various other causes in our community. 

Craven Arts Council designed and created the mural as part of their Art in Public Places program, to create art for the community, by the community. The mural features bold colors and flowers. A Community Paint Day was hosted April 19th with over 350 volunteers of all ages and backgrounds contributing to the painting of the image. 

New Bern Strong Mural

2024
 "New Bern Strong" became coined by the residents of New Bern following Hurricane Florence, a category 4 hurricane that came through the Carolina's in September of 2018. The city of New Bern dealt with a lot of structural, financial, and emotional loss throughout the time period following the disaster, so "New Bern Strong" represents a proclamation of strength by the citizens of New Bern.  Designed by Craven Arts, the mural depicts our community coming together as one under a silhouette of downtown New Bern.

This mural is located on the side of Mike Rogers CPA, downtown New Bern. 
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Greetings From New Bern

2023
Several volunteers and community members came together to create this vibrant mural "Greetings from New Bern" at the corner of Pollock and Hancock street.

Perserverance

2023
CarolinaEast Health System unveiled and dedicated a specially commissioned brick sculpture to healthcare professionals.
Named “Perseverance”, the artwork is meant to honor the dedication, courage and sacrifice of all those in the healthcare profession, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Craven Arts Council helped by facilitating the
Request for Proposals.

PIECE BY PIECE

2021-22
Peace by Piece is Craven Arts Council & Gallery’s second project in their Art
in Public Places program. Art in Public places is a new initiative to create
large-scale community centered public art pieces, made by the community
for the community. Peace by Piece volunteers have helped fold 1000
origami cranes to be installed on a former billboard pole in Five Points
behind Crema Brew. Peace by Piece will be a long term art installation
symbolizing our community working together for harmony and
​the diversity of our town inspired, by the legend of 1000 cranes
popularized by Sadako and the 1000 Cranes.

UNITY

2020-2021
Repainted in spring of 2024
Picture
The sculpture entitled “Unity” is a 12’ tall papier-mâché sculpture that was created by
and painted by children in Craven County. The representation of two hands represents
the unity and strength of our community when working together, and draws
from the imagery of the local “Unity” mural on Broad Street.

First Citizens Sculpture Park

2020
 As part of our mission to enhance the cultural experiences of both downtown New Bern and Craven Country, Craven Arts Council
​& Gallery has been involved in public art efforts for over ten years.
​First Citizens Bank graciously supports this project by allowing us to coordinate the installation of rotating public art in the lot,
​leased from North Carolina sculptors for one year.