“Don’t Matter How Raggly the Flag, It Still Got To Tie Us Together,” Thornton Dial (American, b. 1928), 2003. Collection of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Photo by Stephen Pitkin, Pitkin Studio; courtesy of the Mint Museum

The Democratic National Convention begins next week (just in case you forgot). The week kicks off with CarolinaFest on Labor Day, September 3rd. A daylong street festival, CarolinaFest will be held on Tryon Street in Uptown Charlotte and get started at 10 a.m. with the  Labor Day Parade. September 4th and 5th are Convention meeting days at the Time Warner Cable Arena, with President Obama and Vice President Biden accepting nominations on September 6 at the Bank of America Stadium.

In preparation for the DNC, Charlotte’s cultural hubs have planned many great exhibitions and programs. To begin with, during CarolinaFest museums along Tryon Street will be open with free of admission, including the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art (a Knight Arts grantee), the Harvey B. Gnatt Center (a Knight Arts grantee) and the Mint Museum (a Knight Arts grantee). Other Uptown museums will offer admission at discounted rates, including the NASCAR Hall of Fame (half price) and the Levine Museum of the New South (a Knight Arts grantee) ($5).

Don’t miss the wonderful exhibitions these institutions have planned in relation to the DNC:

“Hard Truths: The Art of Thornton Dial” at the Mint Museum Uptown

• “Hard Truths” presents a major survey of the art of Thornton Dial, displaying more than 30 of his large scale paintings, sculptures and wall assemblages. Dial’s work tackles the “hard truths” of contemporary society.

“Giacometti: Memory and Presence” at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art

• “Giacometti” presents sculptures, paintings, prints and drawings from one of the masters of 20th-century Modernism. The exhibition will reveal the aesthetic evolution and emotional power of Giacometti’s work.

“America I Am: The African American Imprint” at the Harvey B. Gantt Center

• “America I Am,” celebrates nearly 500 years of African American contributions to the United States, covering over 10,000 square feet.

“Out in the Streets: Democratic National Convention, Chicago 1968” at the Light Factory  (a Knight Arts grantee)

• “Out in the Streets” captures the emotionally and politically charged events of the 1968 DNC. Photographers Fred W. McDarrah, Duane Hall, Ron Pownall, Burt Glinn, Art Shay and John Austad captured the chaos, protestors and delegates of this momentous convention.

While planning your visit to these and other events in Uptown Charlotte, please note the following special closings and operating hours during the DNC:

Sunday, September 2

• The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art – closed
• Discovery Place – closed
• Levine Museum of the New South – 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (free admission)
• Harvey B. Gantt Center – closed
• Mint Museum of Art – closed

Monday, September 3

• Discovery Place – 12-5 p.m.
• Levine Museum of the New South – 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
• NASCAR Hall of Fame – 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Tuesday, September 4

• Discovery Place – closed
• Harvey B. Gantt Center – closed
• Levine Museum of the New South – closed
• Mint Museum Uptown – closed
• NASCAR Hall of Fame – closed

Wednesday, September 5

• Discovery Place – closed
• Harvey B. Gantt Center – closed
• Levine Museum of the New South – closed
• Mint Museum Uptown – closed
• NASCAR Hall of Fame – closed

Thursday, September 6

• Bechlter Museum of Modern Art – 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Discovery Place – closed
• Mint Museum Uptown – 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• NASCAR Hall of Fame – closed