The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County raised more than $3 million dollars in its 2011 Annual Campaign and made the largest amount of grants in the Council’s history – more than $2 million.

“This is an amazing accomplishment in this economy,” said Milton Rhodes, President and CEO of The Arts Council “and is confirmation of the fact that people in our community see the arts not only in terms of quality of life but as an economic driver that provides jobs and a valuable part of the educational process that enhances learning in our schools. We have scores of volunteers to thank for the success of the 2011 campaign.”

At its annual meeting, The Arts Council elected Tom Ingram as Chair of its Board of Trustees. Ingram has been the Director of Facilities Planning and Construction at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center since 2009.

The $2,000,008 million made this year in grant awards was an increase of $58,000 or three percent over 2010-11.  Forty-three organizations and 26 individual artists received grants.

The Arts Council made 21 Organizational Support Grants for the 2011-2012 grant year totaling $1,758,000, the largest amount in its history.  This is an increase of $58,000 or three percent over last year.  Major grant recipients were N.C. Black Repertory Company ($200,000); Piedmont Opera ($105,000); Sawtooth School ($130,000); Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art ($190,000); RiverRun International Film Festival ($100,000); Twin City Stage ($195,000); and Winston-Salem Symphony ($250,000).

Arts-in-Education is a collaborative grant program with Winston-Salem/ Forsyth County School System, and in this category, The Arts Council made 20 grants totaling $100,000. An Arts Council supported program touches every child in Forsyth County schools at least once every year.

Innovative Project Grants and Regional Artist Project Grants are partially funded by the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts.  The Arts Council made 14 grants in this category.

Regional Artist Project grants, which promote the work and careers of emerging artists in Forsyth and adjacent counties, were awarded to 19 applicants and totaled $50,000.

The Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, opened last fall, had a successful first year. A total of more than 72,000 people visited the Center, including more than 26,000 who attended events in the Hanebrands Theatre. The Arts Council Theatre on Coliseum had about 78,000 visitors, so about 150,000 people came through Arts Council doors last year.

New Board members elected are Bill Benton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Salem Senior Housing; Chad Cheek, Principal and Director of Strategy & Accounts, Elephant in the Room; Denise D. Adams, North Ward City Council Member; Steve Dollase, Executive Vice President, Inmar; Paul Hammes, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Forsyth Medical Center;  Peggy Joines, Community Relations Officer for Triad West Region, Wells Fargo; Allen Shaw, owner, Centennial Broadcasting; Howard Upchurch, President, Innerwear and Hosiery, Hanesbrands; Merritt Vale, Executive Director, Winston-Salem Symphony; Amy Wein, Senior Vice President, PR & Social Influence, Mullen; and Errol Wint, Project Manager, Caterpillar.

New Arts Council Board officers are Tom Ingram, Chair; Steve Berlin, Vice Chair, Administration; Jim Martin, Vice Chair, Board Development; Brenda Allen, Vice Chair, Community Relations; Bill Benton, Vice Chair, Facilities; Cheryl Lindsay, Vice Chair for Agency Relations; Hunter Douglas, Secretary; Andrew Gilchrist, Treasurer; Wanda Merschel, At-Large Executive Committee Member; Marybeth Wallace; At-Large Executive Committee Member; and Merritt Vale, Member Group Representative.

Sarah and Rob Simon received The Arts Council Volunteer of the Year Award and were honored for their 25 years of combined service.   “Philanthropically generous,” “artistically creative” and “unselfish in commitment” were descriptions of this couple’s approach to helping organizations that include the Children’s Museum, Associated Artists, Reynolda House, Piedmont Opera, the Winston-Salem Symphony and more.

Andy Tennille received this year’s R. Philip Hanes Jr. Young Leader Award. A native of Winston-Salem who returned to the city a few years ago, he has had an impact on Winston-Salem arts organizations with his creative approach to program design, boundless energy to get projects done and his enthusiasm for bringing younger audiences into the arts.

Two new awards recognized positive collaborations between various arts, social service and other non-profit organizations in Forsyth County. The Hispanic Arts initiative and Arts Based Elementary School jointly received The Arts Development Award for a first-time innovative, collaborative project between at least one Funded Partner and one or more community organizations designed to attract new arts and cultural audiences to participate in events in Forsyth County.  They collaborated on a production of the play, Romeo & Juliet on the Border and received a $1,000 grant.

The Arts Knowledge-Sharing Award recognizes two current grant recipients of differing arts, cultural or organizational expertise that have agreed to create an employee knowledge-sharing program between their organizations that improves each grantees’ success by filling gaps that hamper organizational success in the areas of fundraising, audience development, marketing, technology or finance.

The winners were five community theatres – Twin City Stage, Kernersville Little Theatre, Clemmons Community Theatre, Winston Salem Theatre Alliance and Stained Glass Playhouse – who created a common program booklet for all of their productions. They received a grant for $1,000.
Annual Campaign Co-Chairs, Mayor Allen Joines and Peggy Joines, reported that some 125 volunteers raised 3,123,005 – the largest amount raised in the Arts Council’s history. Peggy Joines said, “This is due to the generosity of more than 5,100 of our neighbors – individuals, corporations, small businesses, and foundations – as well as local, regional, and State government agencies – who supported our campaign. More than 1,500 teachers and school administrators gave an average of $48 each. She noted that The Arts Council was fortunate in being named the beneficiary of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Art Collection valued at more than $700,000.

The Arts Council partners with the Winston-Salem Journal, The Chronicle, WFDD, WSNC and the design firm Pursuit of Happiness to allow its members to purchase advertising at one half of their standard rate.  This year 21 groups availed themselves of this two-for-one program and enjoyed savings of $261,007 on their advertising through these venues.

The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County was established in 1949 and was the first locally established arts council in the United States. The Arts Council enriches the quality of life for people in Winston-Salem and neighboring communities by raising funds for the arts, advocating for the arts, sponsoring events in conjunction with other arts organizations, providing educational opportunities, strengthening cultural resources, developing social capital, and aiding economic development.