November Issue 2001
Caldwell Arts Council in Lenoir, NC, Celebrates Its Twenty-fifth Anniversary
The Caldwell Arts Council in Lenoir, NC, is
celebrating its 25th Anniversary. The Arts Council was established
in 1976 by the Brush and Palette Club and has been gathering strength
ever since.
Today the Arts Council presents all art forms including visual,
performing, musical and literary. It has 3 galleries, the Main
Gallery located at 601 Collage Avenue in Lenoir, the Art in Healing
Gallery in the Main Lobby of the Caldwell Memorial Hospital, and
the Art in the Community Gallery at the Caldwell County Chamber
of Commerce. The Main Gallery has exhibits ranging from local
art and photography competitions to national shows such as the
National Watercolor Traveling exhibit. These exhibits change on
a monthly basis with an opening reception for each show the first
Friday of the month. The off-site galleries showcase local artists
and change quarterly.
Events, such as the Sculpture Celebration bring artists
and art lovers into our county from across the nation. The Sculpture
Celebration is a one-day spectacular in which the JE Broyhill
Park is filled with indoor and outdoor sculpture. The Caldwell
Arts Council now maintains a 60-piece public sculpture collection
of pieces purchased from this event. The sculptures are installed
throughout the county, in public buildings, schools, on street
corners, and in parks. If you see a sculpture in Caldwell County,
it probably is part of this collection!
The Arts Council is heavily focused on the children of Caldwell County. The Artist-in-Schools program provides visual and performing arts for school age. Whether for a play, or a concert at the JE Broyhill Civic Center, or an artist-in-residence in their school, every child in Caldwell County school system has the opportunity to see a show or participate in the arts because of the Caldwell Arts Council. In addition, pre-schoolers see storytellers and musicians in their day care centers through our Smart Start Art Program, and the Family Resource Center in Lenoir now provides Art Totes that can be checked out by parents and care providers. These comprehensive art project kits are another program of the Arts Council.
Workshops and classes are available to artists of every skill level. Pottery, watercolor, oils painting, papermaking, papier-mâché, and drawing are just a few of the choices. Artists can receive grant funding through the Regional Artist Project Grants and they can take advantage of complete office support. Non-profit organizations also receive funding for art in their programs through the Grassroots Grants program. This money is available to non-profit organizations in the county. Last year $12,000 was distributed through this program.
To learn more about the Arts Council, stop by 601 College Avenue in Lenoir, call the office at 828/754-2486, or visit their web site at (http://www.conninc.com/caldart/).
Mailing Address: Carolina Arts, P.O. Drawer
427, Bonneau, SC 29431
Telephone, Answering Machine and FAX: 843/825-3408
E-Mail: carolinart@aol.com
Subscriptions are available for $18 a year.
Carolina Arts
is published monthly by Shoestring
Publishing Company, a subsidiary of PSMG, Inc.
Copyright© 2001 by PSMG, Inc., which published Charleston
Arts from July 1987 - Dec. 1994 and South Carolina Arts
from Jan. 1995 - Dec. 1996. It also publishes Carolina Arts
Online, Copyright© 2001 by PSMG, Inc. All rights reserved
by PSMG, Inc. or by the authors of articles. Reproduction or use
without written permission is strictly prohibited. Carolina
Arts is available throughout North & South Carolina.