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Home > The Arts |
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The
arts are alive and well along
the Crystal Coast, and many people choose to journey to the area for its
variety of galleries and art shows. Art often imitates life, and much of
the local art reflects the relationship of coastal people with the sea.
Many artists find the pace of coastal living conducive to developing
their talents and move here for that reason. It's not unusual to meet
people who were professionals in other locations now earning a living
painting, writing or making pottery on the Crystal Coast. The vibrant
community of coastal artists is involved in an eclectic array of
artistic productions. Arts organizations, especially the Arts Council of
Carteret County, actively support artists' endeavors and welcome new
members and volunteers. In this chapter you’ll find a sampling of the
arts groups and galleries in the area. If there is no address for a
group, we have listed the name and phone number of a person to contact.
Another great source of arts information is the publication Arts
Alive (see our
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Arts Organizations
Arts Council of Carteret County The Arts Council of Carteret County was formed in
February 1974. The mission is to expand, promote and nurture the
arts, honor traditional culture, and welcome creativity. The group
strives to accomplish this through organization, communication,
facilitation and support of artists and art organizations. The Arts
Council works as a distributing agent, funding arts events and
education, assisting artists seeking grants and sponsoring a variety
of workshops, lectures and classes. Every February it sponsors the
Art From The Heart exhibition, which involves hundreds of artists.
The council also sponsors workshops and performances that are
announced throughout the year. The addition of programs conducted or
assisted by the Arts Council has resulted in a community arts
concept that embraces drama, literature, dance, music, traditional
crafts, the visual arts and the family. Volunteer assistance and
membership support keep the programs of this organization active and
growing.
Carteret County Arts and Crafts Coalition What began as a small group of
professionally oriented artists seeking an outlet for their work has
grown into a juried, professional art group celebrating its 30th
anniversary in 2008. The coalition conducts four major shows each
year. Three outdoor shows take place on the Beaufort Historic site
over Memorial Day weekend, Fourth of July weekend and Labor Day
weekend. The fourth event is an indoor, three-week show that begins
around Thanksgiving each year. New members are welcome, and jurying
of new work takes place twice each year. Core Sound Decoy Carver's Guild Born from an idea of seven decoy carvers in 1987,
the Core Sound Carvers Guild now has a large membership of active
decoy carvers, collectors, breeders, taxidermists and waterfowl
artists in more than 25 states. The Core Sound Decoy Festival (see
our
Annual Events chapter) in December on Harkers Island is an
outgrowth of the efforts of the Decoy Carvers Guild. The guild
welcomes new members and meets each month on the third Tuesday at
7:30 PM in its new headquarters on Harkers Island Road in Straits.
Guild members offer carving classes for adults and other classes for
children. Crystal Coast Quilter's Guild This energetic group of quilters
meets each month on the third Thursday to exchange ideas and learn
from presenters. The guild is made up of members who enjoy quilting
by traditional and modern methods, including hand piecing, machine
quilting and fabric dying. Along with the monthly meetings,
workshops take place throughout the year with nationally known
quilters and designers. Guild members make and donate children's
quilts to the local domestic violence shelter and help with other
charitable projects. Each May the guild hosts a Quilt Show in
Morehead City. Down East FolkArts Society Folk music comes from the heart and soul of any
locale, and its listeners are sometimes travelers with an ear cant
to the sea. Between September and June, each month brings a concert
to the Crystal Coast for the Folk Concert and Dance Series.
Organized and sponsored by the Down East FolkArts Society, concerts
and contradances take place in various locations in the area. In
addition, the Down East FolkArts Society sponsors workshops,
classes, large concerts, an overnight dance retreat and school and
community outreach programs. Call for membership information, to be
placed on the mailing list and for concert schedules. All events are
open to the public. |
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DanceOften organizations bring professional talent in
dance, drama and music to the area. Visiting artists hold concerts
as well as instructional programs in the public schools in
conjunction with these public performances. Such concert and
instructional programs have featured African dance, jazz dance and
contradancing. Private dance studios on the Crystal Coast offer
classes in ballet, tap and modern dance for everyone from toddlers
to adults, and local recreation centers often offer dance-exercise
line-dancing classes for all ages. Students perform recitals and
often participate in area festivals, group functions and parades.
Dance organizations are also active in community events. Carolina Strut Performing Arts Centre This studio offers classes for adults
and children in such areas as tap, ballet, pointe, modern, lyrical
and jazz styles, as well as tumbling and music lessons. The studio
offers a Wiggles class for children as young as 2½ years old and
continues classes through adults. Dance Arts Studio Dance Arts Studio offers classes in
such arts as tap, ballet, pointe, modern dance, jazz and African
dance in classes for ages 3 through adult. Special classes are
offered for adult beginners. Gulls and Buoys Square Dance Club of Carteret
County The Square Dance Club meets each Friday at
the First Presbyterian Church in Morehead City. The club is actively seeking
new members, so don't be shy. If you don't know how to square dance, the
club is more than happy to give you lessons and promises you can be dancing
after two or three lessons. Professional square dance callers come to the
county for these Friday events. Visitors are always welcome at the 7:30 to
10 PM monthly swings as well.
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