Shaped by Sound is made possible through the support of the Come Hear NC Music Office (CHNCMO), a program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The PBS NC original series spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, featuring artists working in a broad range of genres, including indie rock, rap, R&B, country, jazz, bluegrass, folk, and gospel.
Topics Related to Arts Across NC
Statewide organizations are presenting performances, visual artworks, and literary programs that honor the tapestry of the American experience as we approach the two-hundred-and-fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. These events are part of America 250 NC, a program created by the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to commemorate the anniversary and celebrate North Carolina’s contributions.
Header image: A teacher at Royal Oaks School of the Arts speaking to students, photo by Tibor Nemeth, courtesy of NC Arts Council
Header image: Hobey Ford performing a puppet show for students at Washington Montessori Public Charter School. Photo by Izzy Harris, courtesy of Washington Montessori Public Charter School
Shaped by Sound is made possible through the support of the Come Hear NC Music Office (CHNCMO), a program of the North Carolina Arts Council, which is a division of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Shaped by Sound— a PBS NC original series showcasing North Carolina’s thriving music scene—is back. The second season features a bright new lineup of homegrown indie rock, rap, rhythm and blues, country, jazz, bluegrass, folk, and gospel artists.
Header image: 2025 Louisiana A+ Schools Fall Fellows’ Retreat, photo courtesy of Louisiana A+ Schools
Header image: Michelle Burrows receives the Secretary's Award of Excellence. From left: N.C. DNCR Chief Deputy Secretary Maggie Thompson, N.C. Arts Council Executive Director Jeff Bell, Michelle Burrows, and Secretary Pamela Cashwell. Photo courtesy of DNCR
Michelle Burrows recently concluded her tenure as senior program director for arts learning at the North Carolina Arts Council. We can’t let this milestone pass without looking back at the profound impact she’s had on the agency’s education programs for two decades.
Header image: Volunteers help children with craft at 19th Annual African American Cultural Celebration. Photo by Eric Blevins, courtesy of the DNCR
Header image: students from Mary McArthur Elementary. Image courtesy of Mary McArthur Elementary
In 1995, A+ Schools of North Carolina launched whole-school arts integration by partnering with 25 pioneering schools. Today, we’re revisiting some of those trailblazers who, 30 years later, continue to innovate with A+ Schools.
North Carolina’s statewide network of artists and local arts organizations has fostered a vibrant culture that makes the state a great place to live, work, and visit. Through our grants, the North Carolina Arts Council actively invests in and sustains this creative community.
Explore the updated grant guidelines for the FY2026–2027 grant cycle to learn about available opportunities, eligibility requirements, and how to apply and report