Prior to serving as director of the Orange County Arts Commission, I was the director of an arts center near the Outer Banks. Northeast NC is the “forgotten child” of our state; poverty is rampant, many schools are operating with 100% of their student body on the Free and Reduced Lunch program, and like someone… Read More →
Farewell for now: Sarah Cornette’s latest blog post
Below is Sarah Cornette’s latest blog post chronicling her Fulbright journey in Greece. For more information on what she is doing check out her first blog post and be sure to check back regularly to follow along with us on her incredible journey. ______________________________________________________________________________ By Sarah Cornette Home. Excited, wistful, grateful. Somehow already it all seems like… Read More →
A Valentine from Greece: Sarah Cornette’s latest blog post
Below is Sarah Cornette’s latest blog post chronicling her Fulbright journey in Greece. For more information on what she is doing check out her first blog post and be sure to check back regularly to follow along with us on her incredible journey. ______________________________________________________________________________ A Valentine from Greece by Sarah Cornette I gave a lecture… Read More →
How Art Creates Community: Sarah Cornette’s Fulbright Journey
An introduction to Sarah Cornette’s Fulbright Inquiry Project The OCAC has long been a fan of Sarah Cornette, the art teacher at Mary Scroggs Elementary School, and her choice-based classroom philosophy (read about Sarah in this Vitamin O story). Sarah continues to wow us; in 2018, she was the recipient of a Fulbright Distinguished Award… Read More →
Film Fest 919 to Bring the Best Independent Films to Chapel Hill this Fall
During the first week of October, more than 40 of this year’s best independent films will be featured at Silverspot Cinema in Chapel Hill as a part of the inaugural Film Fest 919. Many of the featured films will likely go on to receive prestigious awards and nominations this season, including at the Academy Awards…. Read More →
2017 Holiday Gift Guide
Everyone wants to give thoughtful, unique gifts for the holidays, but who has the time to do the searching and running? The OCAC is making it easy for you this year. Whether your friends and family prefer gifts, experiences, or learning opportunities, you don’t need to travel far to find something for everyone. And best of all, by… Read More →
From the Blog: Can the Arts Save Rural NC?
Last week I participated in ArtsDay in Raleigh, an annual convening of arts leaders across the state coordinated by our state arts advocacy group, Arts North Carolina. The point of ArtsDay, which is technically two days, is to bring arts advocates up to speed on governmental issues currently facing the arts across the state. The… Read More →
From the Blog: A Day without Arts
Several weeks ago, immigrants across our country observed the Day without Immigrants to illustrate what our communities would look without them. It was a way to showcase their impact, and immediately made me think about the thing I’m most passionate about – the arts. I started thinking about what a Day without Arts would look… Read More →
From the Blog: Meg McGurk “Gets” the Arts
A recent blog post explained how Orange County is an under-cover arts mecca. How, in almost every category in which you can gauge the significance of the arts in a community, Orange County ranked higher than our neighbors in Wake and Durham counties. We even rank higher than the mighty Asheville in terms of art… Read More →
From the Blog: My only enjoyable visit to a hospital
Wondering where to view an impressive art collection in Hillsborough? Be sure to check out our eight galleries, our local arts council, and the hospital. Wait, what? Yep, only in Orange County would a hospital have an art component seemingly as well thought out as the medical technology and care facilities. Or at least this… Read More →