Deep Roots, Wide Reach
The Come Hear NC Music Office (CHNCMO), part of the North Carolina Arts Council (NCAC), was born out of the successful Come Hear NC initiative, which began at the NCAC during the 2019 “North Carolina Year of Music.” As the Music Office works both to celebrate our state’s rich musical legacy and ensure that legacy’s healthy development, its work matches the NC Arts Council’s commitment to the “intrinsic value of the arts” for the intellectual, emotional, and economic betterment of North Carolinians.
The Music Office's support of North Carolina music and musicians furthers the five goals set out by DNCR’s strategic plan for 2025–2029: educating with creativity and joy, strengthening local economies via culture, preserving and enhancing access to cultural resources, bolstering cross-DNCR collaboration and responsiveness to public need, and continuing Hurricane Helene recovery and climate resilience work.
For example, the Music Office is extending the work of the Come Hear NC initiative via programming partnerships with PBS-NC, That Station, and a host of festival and music organizations. In tandem with this promotional work, the office is expanding Come Hear NC’s Music Communities program, which helps musicians identify and secure what’s needed most for the continuing health of their towns and cities.
We’re here to highlight what makes the music of North Carolina extraordinary and preserve the state's unique culture for future generations.