Arts Council Partnering with Forsyth County to Bring Arts to COVID Vaccination Site
Music at Fairgrounds Monday through Saturday mornings
Winston-Salem, NC ( March 8, 2021) – The Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth is partnering with the Forsyth County Health Department to provide music at the Fairgrounds COVID-19 vaccination site from 9:00 -11:00 on the mornings of March 8-31. Performers will receive honoraria from The Arts Council’s Artist Relief Fund.
Chase Law, who joined The Arts Council as President and CEO in December, said this collaboration signals increased community engagement by The Council in months and years to come. “We want the arts in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County to touch every resident, and, to do that, we have to develop new venues close to where people live, work and play. We are talking to residents and community leaders and scouting additional sites where we can reach new audiences,” said Law.
The Arts Council already is a partner with the County of Forsyth in the summer parks series which, until COVID hit, was sponsoring five concerts in county parks each summer. Plans are underway for resuming the Summer Concerts in the Parks this year, provided the COVID pandemic sufficiently subsides by mid-summer.
Joshua Swift, Forsyth County Health Director, said having musicians perform at the County’s vaccination site has dual benefits. “Actually, getting the COVID vaccination itself is simple and painless, but for some people the process is stressful. Having music on site, we hope, will creative a welcoming environment while also giving local musicians a place to perform.” Forsyth County musicians have had few opportunities to perform since the onset of the COVID virus a year ago, creating severe economic hardship.