Winston-Salem State University Visual Arts Department Visits Delta Arts Center

Students and faculty from Winston-Salem State University’s Department of Visual Arts and Studies recently visited the Delta Arts Center to tour its current exhibitions and engage in conversation with Program Director and WSSU alumnus Timothy Jeffers.

The visit offered students a firsthand look at Field Notes: Black Leisure and the Land and Black Cowboys: An American Story—two exhibitions that highlight the relationships between Black culture, community, and the land. Through photography, historical artifacts, and contemporary artwork, both exhibits explore themes of self-determination, freedom, and belonging.

During the tour, Jeffers shared insights into the curatorial process and the Delta Arts Center’s broader mission to celebrate and preserve African American arts and culture in Winston-Salem. The conversation also touched on Jeffers’ own journey from WSSU art student to arts administrator and curator, offering students perspective on how creative practice can evolve into community leadership.

“This kind of visit is exactly what we hope for,” Jeffers said. “It’s important for students to see how their education connects to the work happening in local arts institutions—and to know that their creative voices belong in these spaces.”

The visit underscored the long-standing connection between WSSU and the Delta Arts Center, both vital cultural institutions in Winston-Salem. As students move forward in their studies, the experience served as both inspiration and reminder of the power of art to reflect and shape community.