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Topics Related to Arts Across NC
To understand the evolving impact of COVID-19 on the state’s arts network, the North Carolina Arts Council sent a survey to all 2021-22 grantees. We asked many quantitative questions and were also interested in learning about the less measurable aspects of COVID-19’s effect on how organizations do their work. We received 200 survey responses, with many organizations indicating they had a unique story to share about unexpected opportunities or innovations that arose from the pandemic.
Traditional Arts Programs for Students (TAPS) is a statewide network of afterschool programs created by the North Carolina Arts Council in response to community requests for traditional arts education that is taught locally, knee-to-knee and across generations. TAPS programs across the state represent the diversity of North Carolina’s cultural life and heritage. Each program is uniquely shaped by its community, but all share three core values:
In the summer of 2023, the North Carolina Arts Council awarded grants to ten arts organizations to attend the annual Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disabilities (LEAD) Conference and to be part of an arts accessibility learning community that would meet regularly to discuss accessibility in the arts.
School’s in for summer!When students begin their summer vacation, teachers at many A+ schools return to learning at an A+ Schools of North Carolina summer conference. Each summer, the staff of multiple A+ schools come together for networking and professional development, led by teams of A+ Fellows who plan and facilitate sessions focused on the A+ Essentials, building a creative culture, and exploring arts-integrated curriculum.
Want a surefire way to get into the holiday spirit and #shoplocal for the holidays? Holiday arts markets are one of the best ways to see and support the work of local artists and artisans! Below are just some of the events taking place around the state in November and December 2023.
Butch Goings, a wood and stone carver, and Louise Goings, a white oak basketmaker, are artisans from the Qualla Boundary (Cherokee). They are recipients of the 2023 North Carolina Heritage Awards, an honor given to our state’s most eminent traditional artists and practitioners.
Marcus Edge, the newest principal at Clarkton School of Discovery, has a special connection to his A+ middle school in Bladen County—he was a Clarkton student from 1997 to 2000! Marcus has returned to lead his alma mater with hopes of strengthening its arts programs and commitment to the A+ Schools philosophy. He shared with us a little about himself, his background in arts and education, and his vision for Clarkton.
North Carolina’s local arts councils have a long tradition of cultivating and preserving the rich cultures and histories of their communities. They support the work of artists and arts organizations and also host festivals, exhibits, and other events that encourage audiences to come out and celebrate the unique arts landscape that makes up our state. Summer is a great time to explore the many public art and sculpture exhibitions across North Carolina. Here is just a sampling of the arts events presented by our local arts councils in the next few months:
Happy spring! I hope you’ve been getting out to enjoy the wondrous arts our state offers.
Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed May Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, to commemorate the contributions made by members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities to the state of North Carolina.