The smART Kinston Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to building a vibrant Kinston and Lenoir County by cultivating an arts-driven economy and championing creative placemaking that enriches community life.

We envision Kinston as a hub for the arts in eastern North Carolina, from visual to performance art, from literary to culinary art, from contemporary to folk art and everything in between.

We accomplish our mission by developing the Arts & Cultural District in the Mitchelltown neighborhood of Kinston. We attract and house artists with our residency program, and our artists celebrate fellowship through shared studios, creative placemaking initiatives, and community arts development.