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 →
arts economy
OCAC Releases Report Assessing County’s Arts Climate
Ask someone walking down Franklin Street how they feel about the local arts scene. They’re likely to mention going to performances at Carolina Performing Arts or plays at Playmakers. Or maybe classes they’ve taken at The ArtsCenter, or Hillsborough’s reputation as a writer’s haven. They might mention the Carrboro Music Festival, or the Hillsborough Handmade… Read More →
Local Arts Sector a $130M industry
The findings from the Arts & Economic Prosperity Survey 5 (AEP5), a nationwide study conducted by Americans for the Arts, shows that the nonprofit arts and culture sector in Orange County generates $130.3 million in total economic activity. This spending–$93.6 million by nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and an additional $36.7 million in event-related spending by… Read More →