Arts Council News: March 2026
- agaskins4
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
The Arts Council fuels artists and organizations, fuels access, and fuels sustainability.
See how we did so in March 2026:
National Media visits First Arts Council in the Nation
The national media media tour included Washington, D.C, New York City, and Winston-Salem. Winston-Salem is one of their top three chosen cities that shape American arts and innovation.
Thank you to Visit Winston-Salem and Hayworth PR for making this national media visit possible!
"Long before there was a national model, leaders here chose to organize, fund and support artists as a matter of public priority.
That ecosystem includes institutions like University North Carolina School of the Arts, the nations first public arts conservatory, International Black Theatre Festival, the largest black theater festival in the world, River Run Film Festival, an Oscar qualifying festival attracting film makers from across the globe and Bookmarks Festival, the largest literary festival in the Carolinas. All of these festivals bring their work and their audience right here to this campus.
We are proud to be a part of that legacy and even more proud to help shape its future."
Shannon B. Henry, President and CEO of Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County
View the event reel on Facebook and Instagram. |
Fueling Artists and Organization
The Arts Council provides the Community Grants Fund and provides a conduit for artists and arts organizations across Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.
Grant Highlight: Grant Recipient Michael Anderson's grant supported album comes to fruition.
On April 9, 2026, Art Council Grant Recipient Michael Anderson will perform a live concert premier of his epic musical narrative in Reynolds Place Theatre at 7:30pm.
"The Arts Council helped me start my journey as a producer/composer in Winston-Salem. In 2013 the Arts Council provided enough funds for me to get my first set of production material. In 2024/25 the Arts Council helped me hire musicians for 'Hallov.' I am thankful for the Arts Council for helping artist like myself create projects that would otherwise have stayed dormant." - Michael Anderson
Fueling Access
The Arts Council serves as a convener and collaborator through venue access, programming, technical support, and ensuring creative space remains available and active for artists and audiences.
Main Gallery Exhibition
"By Any Means Necessary" had a successful opening and run! During the opening, the energy in the room was palpable. Main Gallery was full of visitors who enthusiastically support the arts.
WXII came to cover the event and interviewed the artists Owen Daniels, Leo Rucker and Affee Vickers.
Partnership with RiverRun Film Festival
The Arts Council team attended the RiverRun Film Festival Launch Party to celebrate the 28th year of the esteemed, Oscar qualifying festival.
After the launch party, the new Executive Director, Michael Morin, toured the Arts Council's Campus. Leo Morello provided Michael with historic knowledge of how the film festival has operated on the Arts Council's campus. We are ready and excited to support RiverRun Film Festival! Come watch the films on our campus, UNCSA, Marketplace Cinema, Aperture and Carolina Theatre from April 17 through April 25, 2026.
Modern Automotive WSFCS Spring Arts Extravaganza
"Modern Automotive is honored to sponsor a special art exhibition showcasing the incredible talent of WSFC school students. These young artists have put their heart and imagination into every piece, and it truly shows!" - Modern Automotive
The exhibition features artwork from across the school system from elementary, middle and high school on the Arts Council's Campus. This event is brought to you by a partnership betwen Modern Automotive, Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County and Sawtooth School for Visual Arts. It was free admission, free parking, free handson art activities by Sawtooth and awards provided by Modern Automotive.
Fueling Sustainability
With partnership from community supporters, the Arts Council can ensure the next generation has access and resources for the arts. This long-term support includes operational strength, leadership giving, and the infrastructure that powers our mission.
Featured Arts Supporter
Stephanie Pace Brown
President and CEO of Visit Winston-Salem
Member of the Arts Council's Board of Trustees
"The arts are the vibrancy of a community; creating shared experiences, enhancing place, and promoting self-expression. The Arts Council helps to make art accessible for everyone. Now, more than ever, we need to come together around a common goal of shared joy through the arts." - Stephanie Pace Brown
Thank you Stephanie for volunteering as a member of the Board of Trustees, for having relationship building conversations with Arts Partners, for serving as Chair for the Partners Relations and Services Committee, and for bringing national media to the Arts Council's campus! We appreciate your guidance, expertise, resources and support towards the arts.
Thank YOU for your support! We will see you at the theater.
Comments