Cameron Art Museum

Wilmington, NC

Founded in 1962, Cameron Art Museum (CAM) is eastern North Carolina's premier cultural institution, welcoming over 66,000 visitors annually. The museum presents eight exhibitions each year, features a collection that includes works by Josef Albers, Judy Chicago, and Richard Diebenkorn alongside regional artists, and provides a vital gathering place for learning, exploration, and community engagement in eastern North Carolina. CAM draws tourists and visitors and has a positive economic impact of $6.9 million on the local economy.

A 2025 FCI Scoping Grant funded the CAM Initiative for the Environment (CAMIE) which assessed energy-efficient upgrades to reduce the museum's carbon footprint, including strategies for HVAC electrification, geothermal feasibility, solar installation, LED lighting, and water conservation. This study benchmarked current emissions and energy use and identified an actionable plan for measurable greenhouse gas reductions.

Building directly on findings from the museum's FCI Scoping Grant, a 2026 FCI Technical Assistance Grant will advance engineering, structural design, and permitting for a 4,560-square-foot bifacial solar canopy expected to generate approximately 95,000 kWh annually and offset more than 75 tons of CO₂, positioning CAM for fabrication and installation of the solar canopy of CAM’s public courtyard.