Description
Founded in 1972, Johnston County Arts Council (JCAC) is a private, non-profit granting and services organization dedicated to providing quality arts opportunities for all Johnston County residents. Led by a volunteer Board of Directors, JCAC provides financial assistance and services to local artists and nonprofit arts and service organizations for artistic activities benefiting the residents of Johnston County. As a link between artists, arts and service organizations, the school system and the community, the Arts Council administers grants, provides services and develops projects in partnership with a variety of local organizations to stimulate community interest in the arts and support a climate in which the arts can thrive.
As a service to the 152,000 people of Johnston County, the Arts Council:
- Improves the quality of education in our schools through the Artists-in-the-Schools program § Funds arts programs and projects throughout the county
- Promotes local artists and arts activities available to the public
- Provides key resources like the local artist referral database and JCAC website
- Serves as a key resource in making Johnston County a good place to live, work and raise a family
The Arts Council's Board of Directors review and approve Board nominees on an annual basis, unless there is a vacancy. Vacancies will be filled as soon as a qualified candidate is identified and approved by the Board of Directors. Board members may serve a three-year term, and may not serve more than two terms consecutively, unless approved by a 2/3 vote of the Board. The staff includes one full-time Director. Individual artists and artist companies are contracted throughout the year to provide school and community arts activities.
PROGRAMS
Artists-in-the-Schools This comprehensive arts in education program is designed to utilize the arts to reinforce and expand basic curriculum through exposure to performances, hands-on workshops, and residencies with professional artists. Available for all students, grades K-12, at every Johnston County public school, the Artists-in-the-Schools program focuses on the arts as a tool for learning and cultural enrichment. Since its inception in 1999, this program has funded over 1,000 school events, involving more than 150 artists specializing in the disciplines of dance, folk arts, literature, multi-disciplinary arts, music, storytelling, theatre and visual arts. The Artists-in-the-Schools program is made possible by a partnership between the Fred Smith Company, Johnston County Arts Council and Johnston County Schools. The United Arts Council of Raleigh & Wake County provides some services, such as the annual Cultural Arts Festival.
Grassroots Arts Program In partnership with the North Carolina Arts Council, JCAC administers Johnston County's annual allotment of Grassroots funds allocated by the North Carolina General Assembly. These funds are used to support local nonprofit organizations for arts activities that enrich the cultural life of the county and provide every resident with the opportunity to experience the arts. Last year, JCAC awarded twelve grants, including the Ava Gardner Museum, Benson Little Theatre, Johnston County Chorale, Neuse Little Theatre, The Clayton Center, and the Tobacco Farm Life Museum, to name a few.
Regional Artist Program This program awards grants to local emerging and professional artists in need of financial support to pursue projects beneficial to their development as professional artists. Grants are made possible through a five-county partnership including Franklin, Vance, Warren, Wake and Johnston Counties, in collaboration with the North Carolina Arts Council.
In addition to the grants programs, the Arts Council administers a variety of community arts services, including:
Music for the Lunch Bunch The Music for the Lunch Bunch is a series of summer concerts held every Thursday, at 12:15 pm, featuring local artists performing a variety of music, with particular emphasis on classical music. This concert series has been in existence since 1985.
Student Art for the Johnston Memorial Hospital The Johnston County Arts Council, in partnership with Johnston Memorial Hospital and Johnston County Schools Visual Arts teachers, produces six art shows annually for display in Johnston Memorial Hospital. Since its inception in 1996, this groundbreaking program has provided local students a venue to display their work publicly, while offering patients, parents, hospital staff, and visitors the opportunity to experience the healing power of art. Each art show spotlights a different Johnston County School and is displayed on a two-month exhibition cycle.
Scholarships JCAC recognizes the importance of nurturing the creative spirit and supporting opportunities for young artists to pursue careers in the arts. In partnership with Johnston Community College, JCAC awards scholarships annually to assist local students studying in the arts field.
Local Arts Resources JCAC gathers, maintains, and disseminates a variety of local arts information on local programs, services, classes, camps, artists and arts organizations. Community members, businesses, educators, municipalities and donors are encouraged to take advantage of these resources. · A weekly email is sent to all persons interested in receiving information about: local and state exhibitions, competitions, workshops, grants and festivals. · Our local artist directory provides helpful information about area artists available for private and public instruction, commissions, festivals and community activities. The directory offers artist contact information, artistic medium and links to their web sites and/or email addresses.
- www.johnstoncountyarts.org, the Arts Council's website offers a wealth of up-to-date information and resources, including grant applications and guidelines, the community arts calendar, links to area arts and partner service organization websites and links to other state and national arts websites. Since its inception in July 2005, the page has had over 44,000 "hits" by over 15,000 different visitors.
- http://myspace.com/johnstoncountyarts, offers similar information available on the website but details events and opportunities that are more time sensitive. This resource helps the Arts Council tap into the second largest destination on the web with 220,000 new registrants each day and a primary age demographic of 16-34.
