America250 Exhibition Will Celebrate Johnston County Through Art And Photography

SMITHFIELD, N.C. — Visitors attending Johnston County’s America250 Fair will have an opportunity to view artwork and photography celebrating life in Johnston County, both past and present.

The Johnston County Arts Council and the Johnston County Committee for America250NC are partnering to present a juried exhibition of paintings and photography as part of the June 27 fair at Johnston Community College. The exhibition is being sponsored through a grant from Grifols.

Organizers selected “Everyday Life in Johnston County, Past and Present” as the theme, encouraging artists and photographers to capture scenes that reflect the people, places and experiences that have shaped the county through the years.

The exhibit will be housed in the Tart Building on the Johnston Community College campus and will feature a variety of artistic mediums, including oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings, as well as colored pencil, pastel, charcoal, pencil and pen-and-ink works. Conventional and digital photography will also be displayed.

Artists are competing for cash awards in both the art and photography categories. First-place winners will receive $200, second place $100, and third place $50. An overall “Best in Show” winner will receive a $300 prize.

Artwork will be displayed throughout the America250 Fair and will remain available for viewing through the final presentation of the musical “1776” at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 28.

The exhibition is one of several events planned as part of Johnston County’s participation in America250NC, a statewide initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Additional information about Johnston County’s America250 activities is available through the Johnston County Museum in downtown Smithfield and on the county’s America250 website.

Event Details:

• Event: America 250 Fair – Johnston County Celebration

• Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026

• Time: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

• Location: Johnston County Community College

• Admission: Free and Open to the Public