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As we continue to celebrate music in our local community, we welcome Jessica Sanders from Forsyth County Parks and Recreation and Christine Jones from the Arts Council to discuss The Arts Council's Summer Parks Series in partnership with Forsyth County Click to listen

Winston-Salem, NC (March 11, 2019) -- Rebecca Bender has been named Vice President of Finance/Chief Financial Officer of The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. She came to the Arts Council last November in an interim capacity and took permanent status in February. Prior to joining The Arts Council staff, she was at Hanesbrands for almost 20 years in shared services, general accounting, and financial planning. Arts Council President and CEO, Randy Eaddy, welcomed Bender to the staff, saying, “It was our good fortune that Rebecca was making a professional transition just as we were seeking an experienced person with a strong financial background here at The Arts Council. We are delighted that she will continue with us, enabling us to identify additional effective ways to strengthen our operations and assist our partner organizations with financial and other back-office services. Rebecca’s background and experience lend themselves well to our achieving these Arts Council goals.” Bender is a graduate of Salem College and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a major in accounting. Upon graduation, she joined the Deloitte &Touche accounting firm, where she was a member of their audit practice until taking a position with Hanesbrands, then the Sara Lee Corporation. She is active in the nonprofit community, serving on a number of boards and committees, including the Health Impact Committee of United Way and the Finance Committee of the nonprofit Olio glass blowing studio. She currently is Vice Chair of the Board of Experiment in Self Reliance. Winston-Salem, known as a City of Arts and Innovation, and Forsyth County have a robust arts community that enriches the lives of area residents every day and accounts in large part for the recognition they continue to receive as a great place to live, learn, work and play. Forsyth County’s nonprofit arts industry supports 5,559 full time equivalent jobs; accounts for more than $129 million in resident household income, and generates more than $14.8 million in local and state tax revenues.

Arts Council Seeking Applications for Duke Energy Regional Artist Project Grants Artists in Forsyth, Davie, Davidson, Stokes, Surry, and Yadkin counties eligible Online information session Noon, Tuesday, March 12 Winston-Salem, NC (March 4, 2019) — The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County is seeking applications for Duke Energy Regional Artist Project Grants which offer support to artists in a six-county region to help them further their professional development. Committed, gifted individual artists and collaborative groups in Forsyth, Davie, Davidson, Stokes, Surry, and Yadkin counties are eligible to apply. Deadline for applications is Friday, April 5, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. “We are looking for opportunities to make grants that support the careers of area artists at pivotal points in their professional lives. These grants always are diverse because the needs and disciplines of individual artists vary dramatically,” said Dara Silver, Vice President of Grant Programs & Partner Relations for The Arts Council. Guidelines and application are available online at www.intothearts.org. In addition, Arts Council staff will hold an online information session on Tuesday, March 12, at 12:00 p.m. Details for the online information session are posted on The Arts Council website. The grants are sponsored by Duke Energy with support by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Last year, The Arts Council made a total of $24,500 in awards in this grant category to 14 individual artists, collaborations, or music groups. For more information about Duke Energy Regional Artist Project Grants contact Dara Silver at 336-747-1426 or dsilver@intothearts.org. Winston-Salem, known as a City of Arts and Innovation, and Forsyth County have a robust arts community that enriches the lives of area residents every day and accounts in large part for the recognition they continue to receive as a great place to live, learn, work and play. The Arts Council raises funds and advocates for the arts, sponsors events in conjunction with other arts organizations, promotes and funds arts education, creates cultural and learning opportunities, develops social capital and aids economic development. Last year, The Arts Council made 78 awards totaling $1,201,000.

Arts Council President and CEO, Randy Eaddy was joined by Maestro Jamie Allbritten, General Director of Piedmont Opera to talk about the Year of Music in NC and what that means to Piedmont Opera and the Arts Council. They discussed the extensive partnerships and collaborations that Piedmont Opera has and what the impact of their relationships have on the community Click to listen

WS/FCS Student “Spring Arts Extravaganza” Coming in March Two separate exhibitions this year: Elementary and Middle/High School Winston-Salem, NC (February 18, 2019) – Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, in collaboration with Modern Automotive, will showcase student art at a Spring Arts Extravaganza at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem. The “Extravaganza” is one of the region’s largest and most popular art shows and features the best artwork from elementary, middle schools and high schools in the system, including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography and mixed media. Hundreds of students, parents and family members, teachers and arts enthusiasts attend. This year the Spring Arts Extravaganza will be two separate events – a joint event for Middle and High Schools, and a separate event for Elementary Schools. The Middle School and High School exhibition will be held Tuesday, March 5, through Saturday, March 9, at the Sawtooth School in the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts (251 North Spruce Street in Downtown Winston-Salem). Judging will be done on Wednesday, March 6, and ribbons placed. A reception, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 8. Modern Automotive’s “Artists of the Future” contest winners and certificate recipients will be announced at the March 8 reception. The Elementary School exhibition will take place Tuesday, March 26, through Monday, April 1, in Mountcastle Forum at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts. Judging will be done by Modern Automotive representatives on Wednesday, March 27, and ribbons placed. The Elementary School reception, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 29. Modern Automotive’s “Artists of the Future” Elementary School contest winners and certificate recipients will be announced at the March 29 reception. Opening night will have special, hands-on art activity for kids sponsored by The Sawtooth School for Visual Art, and children may take their work home as souvenirs. Randy Eaddy, President and CEO of The Arts Council, said, “Enhancing arts education in our Winston-Salem/Forsyth County schools and touching every student is one of our core missions. Study after study has showed that arts strengthen the educational process, help keep at-risk students engaged, and create the kind of creative thinking that is important for success in the 21st Century.” Eaddy noted that The Arts Council, in partnership with Wells Fargo, provides “Arts in Education” grants that benefit nearly every child in the school system each year. “When parents and others come to these annual exhibitions, they see immediately the amazingly high level of arts instruction our students receive across all disciplines. It is a source of great pride for students, teachers, friends and relatives and the entire arts community,” Eaddy said. “Our annual Community Fund for the Arts is in full swing right now, and we let potential contributors know their dollars will help The Arts Council and the school system keep offering this vital arts programming. It’s a wise investment in the futures of our children that produces huge dividends.” Modern Automotive, which has six dealerships in the region with its flagship operation -- Modern Chevrolet -- in Winston-Salem, will award Sawtooth School scholarships valued at $250 each to winners in each division, along with a family membership to the Sawtooth School. In addition, the students will appear in a TV commercial for the company. Runners up will receive student memberships in the Sawtooth School. The art teachers of the three winners will receive certificates to purchase supplies for their classrooms. The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Arts Extravaganza in a Nutshell Middle School and High School exhibition Tuesday, March 5, through Saturday, March 9 Sawtooth School in the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts (251 North Spruce Street in Downtown Winston-Salem). Judging on Wednesday, March 6, and ribbons placed. Reception, free and open to the public, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 8. Modern Automotive’s “Artists of the Future” contest winners and certificate recipients will be announced at the March 8, reception. Elementary School Exhibition Tuesday, March 26, through Monday, April 1. Mountcastle Forum at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts. Judging will be done by Modern Automotive representatives on Wednesday, March 27, and ribbons placed. Reception, free and open to public, will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 29. Modern Automotive’s “Artists of the Future” contest winners and certificate recipients will be announced at the reception. Winston-Salem, known as a City of Arts and Innovation, and Forsyth County have a robust arts community that enriches the lives of area residents every day and accounts in large part for the recognition they continue to receive as a great place to live, learn, work and play. Forsyth County’s nonprofit arts industry supports 5,559 full time equivalent jobs; accounts for more than $129 million in resident household income, and generates more than $14.8 million in local and state tax revenues.

Devon MacKAY and Shaheen Syal discuss what's new with The Arts Council in 2019 and the launch of the 2019 Community Fund for the Arts campaign. Click to listen

· By Lynn Felder Winston-Salem Journal Jan 30, 2019 The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County held a public meeting Tuesday night at the Canteen Market and Bistro to launch its annual Community Fund for the Arts. The Arts Council’s 2019 goal is $2.5 million, a goal that it exceeded in 2018. The money is used to help fund local arts organizations, small community grants that are offered throughout the year, and for operating and administering the Arts Council. Martha Bassett provided music for the kick-off, and LB The Poet performed spoken word. Randy Eaddy, a long-time board member and retired corporate lawyer, became the president and chief executive of the Arts Council in August. This will be the first fund-raising effort for the Community Fund in his new role. “The challenge is great, of course, but I have no doubt that individuals and business members of this community, who know the enriching and empowering value of arts and culture, will again demonstrate their generosity, ”Eaddy said. “Only with such support can the Arts Council deliver on its essential mission to support (financially and otherwise) and promote the arts organizations and initiatives whose excellence makes us ‘a city of arts and innovation.’ ” It’s also a first Community Fund drive for Connie Quinn, who assumed the role of senior vice president of administration/chief marketing and administrative officer in October. Quinn previously served as executive director of the Little Theater of Winston-Salem and director of operations and development at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art. “We are building on the momentum of the success of last year’s fund (drive),” Quinn said. “It’s a hugely important component of our upcoming year.” The Arts Council is changing the structure of its fundraising team this year. Instead of volunteer chairs, the council has created a Development Committee chaired by board member Shaheen Syal, director of communications at the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. “Shaheen will be, as she always is, a wonderful representative,” Quinn said. “It’s a talented, resourceful, highly motivated group, and we are fortunate to have them in place and driving the 2019 campaign,” Syal said. “They share my determination that we meet our $2.5 million goal.” “Our campaign is always volunteer driven, and each year we are amazed at the energy and enthusiasm our volunteers bring,” said Devon MacKAY, vice president of development and chief development officer for the Arts Council. “We seek to ‘touch every corner.’ We will be drawing on the help of arts advocates throughout the city and county. In turn, monies raised will enable grants and multifaceted support services that touch every corner of the community.”

Winston-Salem, NC (September 6, 2018) – The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County is seeking applications for its operational and programing support grants for its 2018-2019 grant cycle.  These grants are the Organization Support Grant and Annual Event and Series Grant, which serve organizations and groups that present arts and cultural programing for the Forsyth County community.  Programming must take place within Forsyth County.  Funding for these grants is supported by donors to The Arts Council’s Community Fund for the Arts and the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Deadline for both grant applications is Wednesday, September 26, by 5:00 p.m.  Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Dara Silver, Grant Program Manager, to ensure that they are eligible and to determine which grant they should apply for. Information sessions will be held for both grants in the Hanes Conference Room, Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, 251 N. Spruce Street on Wednesday, September 12.  Individuals may attend in-person or via conference call at 605-475-4000 with code 783517#. 9:00  – 10:00 a.m. – Organization Support Grant Information Session 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Annual Event and Series Grant Information Session Grant applications and eligibility criteria are available online.  Click here for Organization Support Grant and here for Annual Event & Series Grant.  All applications and support materials must be submitted electronically by the deadline. The Organizational Support Grant is an evaluative program that rewards organizations demonstrating artistic and organizational excellence with financial support for operating and administrative costs. Grants are awarded to arts and cultural organizations of all disciplines with annual actual revenues of over $150,000 that meet high standards in the quality of their programs and services, level of community involvement, administrative capacity and fiscal responsibility. The Annual Event & Series Grant is an evaluative program that supports organizations demonstrating artistic and organizational excellence with financial support for operating and administrative costs. Grants are awarded to arts organizations of all disciplines with annual actual revenues of $150,000 and under that meet high standards in the quality of their programs and services, level of community involvement, administrative capacity and fiscal responsibility. Winston-Salem’s robust arts community enriches the lives of area residents every day and accounts in large part for the recognition it continues to receive as a great place to live, learn, work and play.  It raises funds and advocates for the arts, sponsors events in conjunction with other arts organizations, promotes and funds arts education, creates cultural and learning opportunities, develops social capital and aids economic development. For further details on grant programs and information sessions visit www.intothearts.org or contact Dara Silver, Grant Program Manager, at (336) 747-1426 or dsilver@intothearts.org. #   #   # For additional information, please contact Dara Silver Vice President of Grant and Partner Relations 336.747.1426 dsilver@intothearts.org

· Journal editorial board It’s a warm and positive development to see two local theater organizations, The N.C. Black Repertory Company and The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem, move into a newly renovated building on Spruce Street in downtown Winston-Salem. It marks progress for the two groups and the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, which owns the building. And at the Journal — which used to own the building, next to our current quarters — we’re happy to see the space being put to productive and creative use. Welcome, neighbors. The two-story building, now known as The Arts Council Extension (ACE) Building, has been remodeled and upgraded to accommodate the particular needs of these theater groups. Each of the two organizations now has its own 1,000-square-foot rehearsal hall and about 2,500 square feet for offices and such. On the main level is a box office that is easily accessible to the public, a meeting room, five offices for the Black Repertory Company and two rehearsal halls — one for each theater group. The second floor holds offices and an additional rehearsal space for The Little Theatre. “It’s amazing, comfortable, spacious, everything we need,” Lane Fields, the executive director of The Little Theatre, told the Journal. “We can have two classes going at the same time with two rehearsal spaces. It’s very convenient.” Both are beloved organizations with storied histories and reputations for serving and entertaining the public. Not least among the conveniences of the ACE Building is that it’s just a short walk from the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, which will soon house a new 240-seat black-box theater for both groups to use for their performances. The theater is expected to be completed in July. We hope, like with the Business 40 construction, the contractors will move ahead of schedule. The ACE Building is also close to other downtown facilities, including the Benton Convention Center and area hotels, widely used every two years by the Black Repertory Company for the National Black Theatre Festival, one of the premier events in the City of Arts and Innovation. “Our headquarters, where all the action is, are right around the corner,” Sylvia Hamlin, board chair for the Black Repertory Company, told the Journal. “It’s wonderful.” The move followed the sale of the Arts Council Theatre on Coliseum Drive about a year ago, where the two organizations kept shop for many years. It was a sad but necessary development as the Arts Council faced a fundraising shortfall, part of a changing cultural landscape that has roiled coffers throughout the city and the country. It’s hard to see a downside to the move, though. The new building will allow both groups to be more nimble in communicating with the Arts Council and the downtown community. It will add to the promotion of a downtown “theater district” that could encompass the Stevens Center and the Milton Rhodes Center. Even having a box office open to the public is a bonus. Since last year’s shortfall, the Arts Council has made impressive gains and last year exceeded its fundraising goal. The ACE Building is another feather in its cap. Kudos to the leadership of the Arts Council for coming up with this innovative arrangement.

Kickoff is 5:00 p.m.,Thursday, January 29, Canteen Market and Bistro Winston-Salem, NC (January 18 2019) – The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County will kick off its 2019 Community Fund for the Arts Campaign at 5:00 p.m., Thursday, January 29, at Canteen Market and Bistro in downtown Winston-Salem. The kickoff is a highlight of The Arts Council year. It is free, and the public is invited. Popular Winston-Salem music personality Martha Bassett will perform. Reservations are not required but an Rsvp for planning purposes would be appreciated to dblanchard@uintothearts.org or 336.747.3477. Connie Quinn, Senior Vice President of Administration and Chief Marketing and Administrative Officer for The Arts Council, said the 2019 goal is $2.5 million. “Our campaign is always volunteer driven,” Quinn said, “and each year we are amazed at the energy and enthusiasm our volunteers bring. Our mantra this year is ‘touch every corner,’ and we will be drawing on the help of arts advocates throughout the city and county. In turn, monies raised will enable grants and special initiatives that touch every corner of the community.” Melinda McConnell, Arts Council Board Chair, said The Arts Council has a newly established Development Committee chaired by board member Shaheen Syal, Director of Communications at the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. “It’s a talented, resourceful, highly motivated group,” she said, “and we are fortunate to have them in place and driving the 2019 campaign. They share my determination that we meet our $2.5 goal!” Arts Council President and CEO, Randy Eaddy, who took the leadership position at The Arts Council last July, noted that 2019 will be his first full Community Fund for the Arts Campaign. “This is an exciting prospect for me,” he said. “It gives me an opportunity to be out and meeting arts advocates and volunteers on a daily basis who are the strength of our Arts Council. I have no doubt that residents of this city and county, who are so convinced of the value of arts and culture, will again demonstrate their generosity. In turn, the Arts Council going forward can provide support for the arts organizations that, through their excellence, allow us to call ourselves with pride, “a city of arts and innovation.” Winston-Salem, known as a City of Arts and Innovation, and Forsyth County have a robust arts community that enriches the lives of area residents every day and accounts in large part for the recognition they continue to receive as a great place to live, learn, work and play. The most recent studies available showed that Forsyth County’s nonprofit arts industry supports 5,559 full time equivalent jobs; accounts for more than $129 million in resident household income, and generates more than $14.8 million in local and state tax revenues.

Martha Bassett, musician and creator of the Martha Bassett Show, and Connie Quinn, Senior Vice President of Administration/Chief Marketing and Administration Officer of the Arts Council, discussed community engagement through the arts and the creation of the Martha Bassett Show. Click to listen

Winston-Salem, NC (January 10, 2019) -- The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County will begin renovation of The Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts on Spruce Street. Portions of The Rhodes Center will be closed during the construction. Reynolds Place, which is now a community events venue, will be converted into a 240-seat multi-functional, black box theater and become the primary performance venue for both the North Carolina Black Repertory Company and Little Theater of Winston-Salem. The existing separated gallery, lobby and conference room space on the main level of the Spruce Street entrance will be opened up and integrated to create a unified and dynamic space containing an expanded gallery, a patrons-services center and an arts gift shop for works by local artisans. Christine Jones, The Arts Council’s Senior Vice President for Facilities and Chief Operating Officer, said The Rhodes Center will remain open during renovation. Maximum efforts will be made to minimize inconvenience to Rhodes Center occupants and visitors. The Sawtooth School, which occupies much of the second floor, will not be significantly affected by the first floor renovation. Associated Artists and The Hispanic League have offices on the first floor and will be relocated to new offices elsewhere at The Rhodes Center. Jones estimates that construction will be completed by mid to late July. “We will segregate the construction area so Sawtooth School students and visitors can still use the main Spruce Street ‘horseshoe’ entrance with close proximity to The Arts Council parking lot. If they prefer, they may still use the existing Marshall Street entrance,” Jones said. “We will procure temporary space for Associated Artists and Hispanic League until their new office spaces on our campus are ready.” Patrons of Coffee Park Arts, the popular coffee shop, snack bar and gathering place located near the Spruce Street entrance, will be pleased to know that its spot will not be affected. Tommy Priest, owner, noted that access will not be impeded. “In fact, we have talked to Arts Council representatives who have agreed to let us offer “curb service” on a trial basis. Pull into the horseshoe on Spruce and we will bring your coffee to you. Little bit ‘retro,’ especially convenient for downtown folks coming to work. And a little bit fun!” said Priest. Coffee Park already has a drive-by operation in a converted Airstream at 1206 Reynolda Road. Randy Eaddy, Arts Council President and CEO, said, “By necessity, we will have to make some adjustments, but we are not going to let that bother us. When we sold the aging, high-maintenance Arts Council Theater on Coliseum Drive, we promised the two resident companies there – Little Theatre of Winston-Salem and North Carolina Black Repertory Company -- that we would provide as a replacement a highly desirable venue for them in Winston-Salem’s downtown Theater District. We are making good on that promise in short order, and we have been working closely with both groups to make sure we meet their needs and expectations. They are cornerstones of our arts community and have been great partners.” The Arts Council has provided new administrative offices and rehearsal space for both of these organizations in its newly renovated 419 Spruce Street building, currently known as “The Arts Council Extension” or “ACE” Building. The University of North Carolina School of the Arts will also stage some performances in the new Rhodes Center theater while its primary theatrical venue, Performance Place, is still closed for renovations. The School of the Arts already has presented productions in The Arts Council’s Hanesbrand Theater, also part of The Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts. “We’ll have an ongoing relationship with the School of the Arts,” Jones recently told The Winston Salem Journal. “They will still have space needs for about 18 months. They’ve expressed a desire to use the new Rhodes Center space, so we solicited their input on the technical issues and also on what would make the new theater conducive for teaching purposes. We’ve also been able to save money by making changes that their team recommended.” Winston-Salem, known as a City of Arts and Innovation, and Forsyth County have a robust arts community that enriches the lives of area residents every day and accounts in large part for the recognition they continue to receive as a great place to live, learn, work and play. The most recent studies available showed that Forsyth County’s nonprofit arts industry supports 5,559 full time equivalent jobs; accounts for more than $129 million in resident household income, and generates more than $14.8 million in local and state tax revenues.