Topics Related to Arts Across NC

Header image: Anna Bryant working in her studio. Photo credit: John DuPre, courtesy of Anna Bryant.Last fall, Hurricane Helene brought devastation to western North Carolina, threatening the state’s culture and economy. Artists affected by the damage are reflecting on their experiences and finding ways to support one another and the community at large as they find their way forward. Art Matters is shining a light on some of these artists. Meet Anna Bryant, the subject of our first profile in a series we’ve titled “Portraits in Resilience.”

Header image: Dare Coulter. Photo by Lauren Lindley Photography, courtesy of Dare Coulter.

To celebrate Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting some of the extraordinary female artists we have featured in the past. This list represents a small sample of the women who have shaped and continue to shape the arts in our state.  

Header photo credit: Atlantic Dance Theatre and Black Box Dance Theatre.Energy shifted as students entered the room. A buzz of excitement filled the air—the students knew today would be special. Dancers from Black Box Dance Theatre greeted them, setting up for a day of movement and learning about resilience.

A revolutionary way of approaching education started in North Carolina nearly 30 years ago, and it has been transforming the lives of students and teachers ever since. A+ Schools of North Carolina is a whole-school transformation model that views the arts as fundamental to teaching and learning. A+ Schools serves more than 60 PreK–12 schools in rural, suburban, and urban communities across the state. In addition, A+ Schools supports transformation at eight pilot schools across the U.S. 

Photo: Interior of Bookmarks bookshop. Image courtesy of Bookmarks and MJS Live Productions.Step into this sun-warmed brick building, with its wall of gleaming windows, and you'll discover North Carolina's only nonprofit independent bookstore. Bookmarks, located in Winston-Salem, champions a bold mission: cultivating community by bringing people of all ages together with books and authors who educate, inspire, challenge, and entertain. 

In honor of Black History Month, we took a trip in the N.C. Arts Council time machine to revisit some of the artists we have featured in the past. These remarkable artists excel in their craft and have shaped the state’s artistic heritage. Let's reconnect with these visionaries. 

The North Carolina Arts Council is developing a bold five-year strategic plan that will strengthen our state's arts community. Over the past year, we've taken time for research and reflection to shape this vision. The staff began by examining their work priorities, assessing current conditions in the field, and identifying challenges that need attention. The Arts Council’s board leadership then joined staff to form a strategic planning committee that moved the process forward. 

Western North Carolina was forever changed by Hurricane Helene. The floodwater, high winds, and mudslides caused widespread devastation across 26 counties, covering more than 10,000 square miles of the North Carolina mountains and foothills. Once the waters receded, the storm’s impact on the region’s infrastructure and economy was clearly historic. The arts, a key industry in the highlands, felt the brunt of this disruption.

One of the ways the state invests in the arts is through the North Carolina Arts Council’s grant programs. The Arts Council gives these financial awards to sustain and advance our diverse and widespread network of arts organizations and artists.