Press Releases

Raleigh, N.C. (May 21, 2019) — As North Carolina continues to celebrate 2019 as the Year of Music, a first-time collaboration with the Americana Music Association and the state will be announced Tuesday, May 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the Executive Mansion.

First Lady Kristin Cooper, Susi H. Hamilton, secretary for the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Wayne Martin, executive director of the N.C. Arts Council and the executive director of the Americana Music Association will unveil plans for a North Carolina presence at AMERICANAFEST, scheduled in Nashville in September.

Washington, DC — The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced that 16 organizations will receive $1.3 million for fiscal year 2019.

In total, the NEA plans to award $80.4 million to 1,114 organizations and individuals across the country to promote opportunities for people in communities across America to experience the arts and exercise their creativity. The NEA is the only arts funder reaching the entire country.

Below is a list of grants to North Carolina organizations:

Come Hear NC Sponsors stage at Merlefest featuring Mando mania with Tony Williamson, Molly Tuttle, Mile Twelve, Jim Avett, Watson family tribute, + more

North Carolina’s groundbreaking contributions to American music stretch across bluegrass, gospel, jazz, blues, R&B, and beyond -- and this year at MerleFest, the state’s rich musical history will be on full display with over 35 N.C.-based acts set to grace the stages in Wilkesboro, N.C and several special North Carolina moments planned throughout the weekend.

Raleigh, N.C. (April 9, 2019) — The first North Carolina Veterans Songwriting Workshop will be held Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5 on the Outer Banks as part of the Dare County Arts Council’s Veterans Arts Program.

The free workshop will be led by Ron Capps, founder of the Veterans Writing Project, a national nonprofit organization that has provided more than 3,500 veterans, service members and military families the skills and confidence needed to tell their stories through the written word.

Raleigh, N.C. (March 25, 2019) — April is national poetry month and North Carolina’s Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green has free readings scheduled across the state as well as an appearance with U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith.

Additionally, Green will release a playlist to celebrate the written word on Come Hear NC in a nod to the statewide celebration of music during 2019.

South Arts has awarded North Carolina’s Sheila Kay Adams, Travis Stuart, and Rodney Sutton the inaugural In These Mountains: Folk & Traditional Master Artist Fellowships. Each traditional artist will receive an award of $9,000 to continue their lifelong learning. They are among nine Master Artists selected from North Caroilna, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Raleigh, N.C. (March 1, 2019) — The North Carolina Arts Council will offer three regional writing workshops this spring in Cary, Asheville and Wilmington that will be taught exclusively by North Carolina Arts Council Literary Fellowship recipients.

In partnership with local organizations, the workshops will spotlight the talents of recipients who work in fiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting and creative non-fiction.

Writers across the state are invited to participate in the free workshops, although registration is required along with a refundable deposit.

South Arts, the nonprofit arts service organization advancing Southern vitality through the arts, has named nine visual artists to receive State Fellowship awards of $5,000 each including Andrew Hayes a sculptor from Asheville.

February 4, 2019

The next cycle for the North Carolina Heritage Award program will begin in 2020 rather than this year. Nominations will be accepted in January 2020 and the awards ceremony will take place the following year, in 2021. 

Raleigh, N.C. (January 31, 2019) — The new date for the installation of North Carolina’s ninth Poet Laurate, Jaki Shelton Green, is Monday, Feb. 18 at the State Capitol.

Looking for last minute gift ideas for the holidays? North Carolina’s literary community has been busy this year. Here’s a list of books, story collections and essays written by North Carolina Arts Council Fellowship recipients in the literary category.

Celebration includes Daily Posts of Music, Exclusive Streaming & Music Events

Contact: Michele Walker, (919) 814-7429  ||  Rebecca Moore, (919) 814-6530

Raleigh, N.C. (November 27, 2018) — Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed 2019 The Year of Music to recognize North Carolina’s influence on America’s most important musical genres and to celebrate, support and sustain the state’s strong music heritage.     

Raleigh, N.C. (October 25, 2018) — The new date for the installation of North Carolina’s ninth Poet Laureate, Jaki Shelton Green, is Monday, Dec. 10 at the State Capitol.

The ceremony, originally scheduled in September, was postponed due to Hurricane Michael.

Raleigh, N.C. (September 21, 2018) —The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and the North Carolina Arts Council have teamed up to present the North Carolina Stage at the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival Friday, Sept. 28 and Saturday, Sept. 29 in downtown Raleigh.

The North Carolina Stage, located on Davie Street, will focus on musicians and groups that exemplify why North Carolina plays such a large role in shaping the bluegrass sound and the story of traditional music in America.

Raleigh, N.C. (Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2018) — The North Carolina Poet Laureate Ceremony, scheduled for Wed., Sept. 19 in Raleigh, has been postponed due to the uncertainty of Hurricane Florence and its aftermath.

Jaki Shelton Green was appointed by Governor Roy Cooper in June. She succeeds Shelby Stephenson, who was named poet laureate Feb. 2, 2015.

A new date for the public induction ceremony will be announced on www.NCArts.org.

Greensboro, N.C., August 21, 2018 — North Carolina Folk Festival organizers today announced the North Carolina artists who will showcase their talents at the 2018 North Carolina Folk Festival – a free admission, three-day weekend celebration of America’s roots & heritage in downtown Greensboro, Friday, Sept 7 to Sunday, Sept. 9. 

The North Carolina program is produced with support from the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency of the North Carolina Department of Natural & Cultural Resources.  

Atlanta – South Arts, a nonprofit regional arts organization, has awarded North Carolina organizations 15 grants totaling $57,047 to support the presentation of touring, performing, and literary artists in public performances and readings along with educational activities throughout North Carolina.

In total SouthArts awarded $276,949 to Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

North Carolina organizations that received funding include:

Raleigh, N.C. (April 23, 2018) — The North Carolina Arts Council, The Arts Council of Wilson, and the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park will present a free concert, The Jazz Revival Project, Thursday, June 7 at the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park in Wilson.

The Jazz Revival Project is a new effort that recognizes and celebrates the jazz heritage of Wilson, which is part of the African American Music Trails.

A limited-edition poster that celebrates the 2018 North Carolina Heritage Award recipients is now available in advance of the May 23 ceremony and concert in Raleigh.

Created by artist Katy G. Collier, the screen-printed poster is the first-ever commissioned to celebrate the N.C. Heritage Award.

Raleigh, N.C. (Feb 26, 2018) — The North Carolina Arts Council’s Artist Fellowship Exhibition opens Saturday, March 3 at the Cameron Art Museum (CAM) in Wilmington with the works of 17 contemporary artists.

The artists participating in the show include ten visual artists, three craft artists, two film/video artists, and two choreographers — all were recipients of the 2016-2017 Artist Fellowship awards.

Raleigh, N.C. (February 19, 2018) — Three free bluegrass and old-time music concerts performed by students, alums, and instructors in the Junior Appalachian Musicians program are planned this spring as part of the 50^th -anniversary celebration of the North Carolina Arts Council.

The popular Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) after-school program provides a growing number of North Carolina students with the opportunity to learn the music of their region from master players.

Information Sessions for Potential 2019 Schools Set in March

Raleigh, N.C.  February 12, 2018 — A+ Schools of North Carolina announced today that it has accepted seven new schools to join A+ Schools Network. A+ Schools of North Carolina is one of the longest-running and most successful arts-based school reform models in the country.

The seven new schools, located in Charlotte, China Grove, Fayetteville, Kannapolis, Mebane, and Raleigh, will join the A+ Network following a five-day institute that will be held this July. 

Raleigh, N.C. (January 9, 2018) — The North Carolina Arts Council’s 2018 grant guidelines for nonprofit arts organizations are now available at www.NCArts.org. The deadline for submitting applications is Thursday, March 1.

The N.C. Arts Council’s grant programs are designed to sustain and advance the arts infrastructure that reaches into all 100 N.C. counties, to enhance the education of children and youth, and to ensure that all North Carolinians have access to a wide range of high quality arts programs. 

Raleigh, N.C (December 5, 2017) —Six traditional artists from across the state will receive North Carolina Heritage Awards on May 23, 2018 for their contributions to our state’s cultural vitality, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.

The 2018 North Carolina Arts Council Heritage Award winners are:

Raleigh, N.C. (November 13, 2017) — Nominations for the state's next poet laureate, the ambassador of North Carolina literature, will be accepted from Wednesday, Nov. 15 to Friday, Dec. 8 online at www.NCArts.org.

The public is invited to nominate any North Carolina poet, or themselves, if they feel they are best suited for the position. Only current North Carolina residents are eligible to be nominated. Judging will be based on the following criteria:

• A North Carolinian with deep connections to the cultural life of the state;

Arts and cultural organizations in all 100 North Carolina counties will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the North Carolina Arts Council in October through music, dance, visual arts, theater, literature and other art forms presented across the state.

Nineteen artists living and working in North Carolina are recipients of the 2017 – 2018 North Carolina Arts Council Artist Fellowship Award in the categories of literature, musical composition and songwriting.

Artists receive a $10,000 fellowship to support creative development and the creation of new work. Recipients were selected by panels comprised of artists and arts professionals with expertise in each discipline.

CONTACT: Liz Auclair (NEA), auclaire@arts.gov, 202-682-5744

Washington, DC –Jane Chu, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), will visit Burnsville, Penland, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Wilson, and Durham, North Carolina, August 21–23, 2017. While in the state, she will visit arts organizations funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and the North Carolina Arts Council, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and give remarks at a public event in Asheville.

A study released today by Americans for the Arts, in partnership with the North Carolina Arts Council, shows that the nonprofit arts and culture sector in North Carolina generated $2.12 billion in direct economic activity and supported almost 72,000 full-time equivalent jobs in 2015.
 
“Not only do the arts fuel the mind and spirit, they fuel our economy,” Governor Roy Cooper said. “This study confirms that the arts bring jobs, income and visitors to North Carolina, and underscores the important role the North Carolina Arts Council plays in nurturing our creative economy.”

Lori Cozzi, Executive Director of ArtSpace Charter School in Swannanoa, was named the 2017 Gerry D. Howell A+ Educator of the Year at an A+ Network webinar on Thursday, May 4. The award recognizes an A+ educator who best exemplifies the values of A+ Schools of North Carolina and its philosophies.

Raleigh, N.C. (February 21, 2017) — North Carolina high school students from 30 school districts across the state will take the stage on Saturday, March 4, in Greensboro, to compete in the annual statewide Poetry Out Loud Semifinals and Final Competition. The state winner will advance to the Poetry Out Loud finals in Washington, D.C. this April.

A collaboration with universities across the state will bring music from 11 countries in east Africa, all connected by the Nile River, to North Carolina for a series of musical celebrations.

A cross-cultural collaboration, the Nile Project features artists who collaborate on new songs that combine the rich diversity of one of the oldest places on earth that represent more than 450 million people. The first U.S. tour was in 2015.

The Arts Council of Henderson County, in collaboration with the Transylvania Community Arts Council, and the Tryon Fine Arts Center in Polk County, announces the Regional Artist Project Grantees for 2016-17. These grants are awarded to artists planning projects that have artistic merit and promise to advance the career of the artist or collaborating group. The grants are open to emerging and established artists.

Creative Forces: NEA Military Healing Arts Network Launches New Sites and Programs

Bethesda, MD (October 25, 2016)— The Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, N.C. is one of five new clinical sites for expansion of the Creative Forces: NEA Military Healing Arts Network, a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Department of Defense (DoD).

Raleigh, N.C. (October 11, 2016) — Shannon Silva of Wilmington has received a North Carolina Arts Council Artist Fellowship Award in the category of film and video.

She is among 17 from across the state to receive the 2016–2017 North Carolina Arts Council Artist Fellowship Award. Artists receive a $10,000 fellowship to support creative development and the creation of new work. Recipients were selected by panels comprised of artists and arts professionals with expertise in each discipline.

Raleigh, N.C. (October 12, 2016) — Andrea Vail, John W. Love, Jr., Stephanie J. Woods, and Thomas Schmidt all of the Charlotte area, have a received a North Carolina Arts Council Artist Fellowship Award in the category of visual art or craft.

The artists are among 17 from across the state to receive the 2016 – 2017 North Carolina Arts Council Artist Fellowship Award. Artists receive a fellowship to support creative development and the creation of new work. Recipients were selected by panels comprised of artists and arts professionals with expertise in each discipline.

Raleigh, N.C. (October 12, 2016) — John Huneycutt of Oakboro in Stanly County has received a North Carolina Arts Council Fellowship Award in the category of visual art.

Huneycutt is among 17 artists from across the state to receive the 2016 – 2017 North Carolina Arts Council Artist Fellowship Award. Artists receive a fellowship to support creative development and the creation of new work. Recipients were selected by panels comprised of artists and arts professionals with expertise in each discipline.

Governor Pat McCrory has proclaimed the week of Sept. 11 –17, 2015 as Arts in Education Week in North Carolina.   

“Arts education is an essential element of a complete and well-rounded education for all students,” said North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory. “Arts education contributes to increased attendance and graduation rates; elevates academic achievement; and prepares students for college, career and citizenship readiness.”

Raleigh, N.C. -- A vision six years ago by Wilson community leaders to restore and preserve the gigantic wind-driven kinetic sculptures created by one of North Carolina's most recognized artists took a giant leap toward completion with the announcement this week of a Kohler Foundation gift.

Organizers of the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park announced that a new partnership with the Kohler Foundation will complete the restoration of the balance of Vollis Simpson's kinetic sculptures, set to top-off the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park & Museum, located in downtown Wilson.

The deadline to apply for the Mary B. Regan Community Artist Residency award is set for Tuesday, March 15, 2016.

This is the second cycle for the grant that honors Ms. Regan's four decades of leadership as executive director at the N.C. Arts Council and her long-held beliefs in the importance of the contributions of artists and the transformative potential of creativity to community life.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced that sixteen nonprofit organizations in North Carolina will receive $320,000 from two grant categories for fiscal year 2016.