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North Carolina Arts Council Fact SheetThe North Carolina Arts Council celebrates all those who create and enjoy the arts in all 100 counties of the state. History and StructureThe North Carolina Arts Council was established by executive order of Governor Terry Sanford in 1964. The Arts Council became a state agency in 1967. The North Carolina Arts Council is a division of the Department of Cultural Resources. Linda A. Carlisle is Secretary of Cultural Resources. The Arts Council is made up of a 24-member board of directors, appointed by the Governor. Robert "Bobby" Kadis of Raleigh is the Chairman. Executive Director Mary B. Regan leads a staff of 28. The goals of the Arts Council are to develop, preserve and sustain North Carolina's arts resources, to deepen the connection between the arts and North Carolina's communities, and to heighten understanding of the role and value of the arts to the state. Mission: To Make North Carolina A Better State Through the ArtsWe accomplish this in partnership with:
Click here for the Strategic Plan The Arts in North Carolina: North Carolina is known throughout the world for its pottery traditions, literary legacy, arts institutions, and music from Southern Appalachian, jazz, blues, and gospel traditions. North Carolina's network of more than 100 local arts agencies and 3,000 non-profit arts organizations also enjoys a national reputation, providing citizens and visitors with an impressive variety of cultural experiences. North Carolina's creative industry is a critical part of the state's economy. Creative individuals and businesses contribute a market value of $41.4 billion through more than 100 creative industries— the nearly 300,000 jobs that produce and sustain these products and services are almost six percent of total employment in our state. The Creative Industry sustains more than $10 billion of employee compensation, nearly five percent of the state's total wages and benefits. North Carolina Arts Council ProgramsArts in Communities: Arts in Communities helps local arts councils, multicultural organizations, local governmental agencies, and other groups to make the arts an integral part of community life and administers the Grassroots Arts Program, a per capita funding program recognized as a model for stimulating community-based arts development by emphasizing decision-making at the local level; and Regional Artists Project Grants program, which provides funds to regional consortia of local arts councils to award project grants to artists in their regions. Arts in Education: Since its earliest years the N.C. Arts Council has been committed to expanding the depth and scope of arts in education to ensure greater successes in learning. Artists participate in school residencies to strengthen and integrate creative expression in grades K-12. Through Arts-in-Education Partnerships the Council encourages long-term collaborative initiatives between arts organizations, artists and schools. These programs underscore the key role the arts play at the core of learning. Many arts groups are also extending their missions to include education partnerships as essential parts of their on-going work. Cultural Tourism: Tourism is the second leading industry in the state, and cultural tourism is the fastest growing segment of tourism. The Arts Council provides consultations, technical assistance and information to help arts organizations develop tourism initiatives. The Arts Council develops marketing and public relations strategies to promote the state's arts resources to tourists. Folklife: North Carolina is rich in traditional folklife. To recognize the talents and lifetime contributions of the state's many folk artists, the Council initiated Folk Heritage Awards in 1989. More than one hundred artists have been honored over the life of the program. The Arts Council oversees many other initiatives to celebrate the state's cultural heritage and promote public knowledge and appreciation of folklife, including surveys of traditional culture across North Carolina. Literary, Visual and Performing Arts: To ensure visitors have access to a wide range of quality arts programs, the N.C. Arts Council works with artists and organizations across the state. NCAC provides financial support, information resources and organizational development assistance to museums, symphonies, dance and opera companies, craft schools, theaters, galleries, literary publications, arts centers, summer music, dance and theater festivals and outdoor dramas. Fellowships are awarded to more than 25 artists each year to support their work, and thus, the creative vitality of the state. Public Art: From 1982-1995, the Artworks for State Buildings program commissioned 61 artworks using one-half of one percent of each building's construction budget. The last contracted art project was completed in 2000. The program has been documented in a catalog Creating Place: North Carolina's Artworks for State Buildings. The program was modeled on similar legislation in 26 other states and other U.S. towns and cities. In 2001, the North Carolina Arts Council established "Creating Place: A Community Public Art and Design Initiative" to encourage communities to invest in public art as a logical part of community design. Grants and technical assistance are provided to interested communities and organizations to help them plan for and then implement public art projects. Through the program, education about public art is provided through Arts Council staff consultation, presentations, publications, and resources for artists and administrators. Touring and Presenting: A listing of selected North Carolina artists and companies in all disciplines who work in performance and residency settings is published. Funds are also provided to organizations to hire artists and companies for school or community activities such as performances, workshops, readings, residencies, festivals, and after-school and summer programs. Click here for the staff directory
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