Durham, NC
“If I believe that I’m an artist, I know that I can create a new world in which my desires exist. If we remember that then we don’t lose hope.”
Boiling Springs, NC
“I tell people that North Carolinians have done three things really well: cook barbecue, make music, and make literature.”
Chapel Hill, NC
Mipso is a band that defies classification. The iconic North Carolina sounds of bluegrass and old-time flow throughout their music, which is equally influenced by the Triangle’s storied indie music community.
Mebane, NC
“My role as Poet Laureate is to be present in many, many different types of communities and to definitely foster an appreciation for voices that are marginalized.”
Greensboro, NC
“I wouldn’t be able to tell the stories I tell now without all that foundational support I received in North Carolina.”
Wilson, NC
Born Willie King Seaberry in Wilson in 1932, drummer Billy Kaye has performed with jazz titans like Billie Holiday, Thelonious Monk, Lou Donaldson, and George Benson.
Raleigh, NC
From David Sedaris to his Golden Globe nominated daughter actress Evan Rachel Wood, Ira David Wood III’s work has inspired numerous North Carolinains to pursue careers in the arts.
Vilas, NC
Joseph Bathanti's relationship to the North Carolina Arts Council is one for the books.
Durham / Pink Hill, NC
“The drive for me is the story. If I don’t have that, it’s hard for me to do anything. It’s hard for me to work if I’m not really passionate about the story itself.”
Raleigh, NC
Thomas Sayre built his career in North Carolina from the ground up. Literally.
Buncombe County, NC
Arvil Freeman likes to say, "I can teach you to play, but how good you’ll be depends on you."
Kinston, NC
Dick Knight's Kinston story is an unlikely one, but the eastern North Carolina town led this music-loving Georgia native to James Brown, and a fulfilling career as an arts educator.
Cumberland County, NC
Asha Bala is on a mission to make an ancient South Indian classical dance a celebrated American dance form.
Chatham County, NC
Tony Williamson's musical journey has taken him all over the world, but it began in his parents' home in rural Randolph County.
Caldwell County, NC
Glenn and Lula Bolick have carried many traditions of North Carolina's mountains and piedmont into the 21st century through the pottery and music they've made together for over 50 years
Garner, NC
Scotty McCreery was only 17 when he won American Idol in 2011. The bright lights and big achievements haven’t blinded the country-music star to his roots.
Raleigh, NC
In 1982, Debra Austin made history when she joined the Pennsylvania Ballet, making her the first African-American female principal dancer in a major American ballet company.
Durham, NC
Sylvan Esso, a Grammy-nominated Durham-based electro-pop duo founded by Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn, is on the rise.
Plott Creek, NC
Author David Joy says, "When a story comes to me the place is already there, and the characters crawl themselves out of that land." For him, that place is always Jackson County, NC.
Seaboard, NC
Six-time Tony Award-winning costume designer William Ivey Long says all roads lead to North Carolina.
Charlotte, NC
It was love at first sight for Kennedy Center Honoree Patricia McBride and Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, who danced together in the famous New York City Ballet. This dynamic couple has led North Carolina's dance community since 1996.
Durham, NC
Creativity is at the heart of the Freelon family. Nationally renowned architect Phil Freelon and his son, musician Pierce Freelon open up about why in an intimate conversation.
Durham, NC
Matt and Ross Duffer, the 33-year-old identical twins created and directed the hit show, Stranger Things, which premieres its second season on October 27th.
Beautancus, NC
Poet, musician, and producer Shirlette Ammons may live in Durham, but her childhood in the tiny eastern North Carolina town of Beautancus defines her artistry.
Chapel Hill, NC
Author and illustrator Daniel Wallace celebrates the North Carolina Arts Council and the importance of public funding for the arts in his 50 for 50 interview.
Nags Head, North Carolina
David Alan Harvey is a nationally-renowned photographer who splits his time between Nags Head and New York City.
Durham, NC
Beverly McIver is an acclaimed contemporary visual artist from Greensboro, N.C. Her relationship with the North Carolina Arts Council spans decades, and began in 1994 when she received the North Carolina Arts Council’s Artist Fellowship.
Kinston, NC
Chef, author, and television personality Vivian Howard believes the arts matter, especially in rural North Carolina.
Header banner features Scotty McCreery, Phil and Pierce Freelon, Mipso, Beverly McIver, Patrick Dougherty, Patricia McBride, and Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux
