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N E W S F R O M T H E D E P A R T M E N T Summer Performing
Arts Beckon N.C. Visitors Contact:
The Guide is produced by the Summer Performing Arts Coalition, which is made up of 14 outstanding venues around the state. Partners include the N.C. Grape Council, which provides the Guide with information on 28 North Carolina wineries, and AAA Carolinas, which is offering discounts to its members for Summer Performing Arts shows. "Many of the activities found in the Guide are free or priced to be able to take the entire family, whether on a weeklong vacation, an overnight excursion, or even a day trip," said Maryanne Friend, Marketing and Cultural Tourism Director for the North Carolina Arts Council. "The 2004 edition of the Guide features links to places to go and things to do, great spots to eat and stay, and other ways to make a stay in North Carolina unforgettable." WORLD CLASS THEATER,
DANCE AND MUSIC Dance fans can enjoy the Atlanta Ballet at the Appalachian Summer Festival in Boone and performances by students, alumni, and faculty from the N.C. School of the Arts during the "illuminations" festival at Roanoke Island Festival Park. Music lovers can see superstars like folk singers Peter, Paul, and Mary at the Brevard Music Festival, pianist Andre Watts at the Eastern Music Festival, and legendary North Carolina guitar picker Doc Watson as part of the Appalachian Summer Festival's 20th anniversary season. SUMMER PERFORMING
ARTS COALITION PARTNERS A 2004 Guide to North Carolina Dance, Music, and Theater receives support from the N.C. Arts Council. A division of the Department of Cultural Resources, the N.C. Arts Council is an agency funded by the state of North Carolina and the National Endowment for the Arts. The mission of the N.C. Arts Council is to nurture and support excellence in the arts, and provide opportunities for every North Carolinian to experience the arts. The Arts Council further serves as a catalyst for the development of arts organizations and facilities throughout the state as it makes grants and offers technical assistance. For more information, contact Joe Newberry at the North Carolina Arts Council at (919) 733-2119 or joe.newberry@ncmail.net. STORY IDEAS Family Fun A 2004 Guide to North Carolina Dance, Theater, and Music is chock full of fun for the entire family, plus things just for the kids (of all ages) like Lees-McRae Summer Theatre's production of "Jack Tales: Theatre For Young People," or magician Bradley Fields, who will combine dance, mime, and music as he moves across the stage of the Roanoke Island Festival Park performing magic tricks in a seamless flow of movement. Travelers are indicating a desire to pursue more family oriented activities, as well as an interest in spending time in "safer" areas, possibly in response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Another trend finds that parents are more and more willing to take their kids out of school to travel for a first-rate educational experience. Exciting Venues Appalachian State University in Boone is home to the new Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, the largest visual arts center in northwestern North Carolina, east Tennessee, and southwest Virginia. Outdoor dramas like "Unto These Hills" in Cherokee and "The Lost Colony" on Roanoke Island, among the top four dramas in the nation, are performed where the events actually took place. The Inside Track on
Outside Fun Summer is such a great time to be outside, and there is plenty
to do under the stars in North Carolina. Some examples: Sharing with Students Tomorrow's stars start here. Many of North Carolina's festivals also have internationally recognized schools. A feature story might look at how mentors and students interact at Roanoke Island Festival Park or the Brevard Music Center (interesting angles with adult learners at nearby John C. Campbell Folk School or Penland School of Craft in the western area.) Another example of mentoring can be found at the Flat Rock Playhouse & The Vagabond School of the Drama, which has trained hundreds of theater students in performance and design. Whether a kindergartener or college graduate Flat Rock Playhouse's hands-on approach to theater affords students an opportunity to work side by side with theater professionals. Another feature idea is that alumni of programs like the Brevard Music Center can be found in virtually all of the nation's leading orchestras, opera companies, and leading conservatories. For example, the Center's Artistic Director, David Effron, attended the center as a young teenager in the 1950s, and has gone on to establish a major career as a conductor with engagements throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Israel. Profile the Stars
North Carolina's internationally recognized festivals draw the best and
the brightest. Each of these 2004 performers would make an interesting
profile: $ave with the Art$ Prices for events in the performing arts range from FREE to $45 a seat. Many events offer children's discounts. The bottom line: you can stretch the family's vacation dollar by enjoying 'big city' events close to home. Cultural tourism a
growing trend. The North Carolina Performing Arts Consortium, its annual
guide and website are examples of the imaginative cultural marketing that
has made North Carolina a leader in cultural tourism, according to the
National Association of State Arts Associations. Performing arts organizations
are finding it pays to link arms in building audiences. Meanwhile, state
Arts Councils and Departments of Tourism are discovering that arts "trails"
and "itineraries" are effective ways to introduce people to
the riches of their state. Return to News Page |
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© 2003 North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. |
Knowing that cultural activities are integral to the daily lives of
North Carolinians and a healthy economy, we work to preserve, develop,
promote, and share the state's artistic, historic, and informational
treasures. |
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East Jones Street || MSC 4601