Our Impact
Creative arts strengthen schools, enhance economic activities, bridge cultural divides, and build a sense of common purpose. Our job is to elevate and amplify the arts’ impact on our communities. Here’s how we’re doing it.
Empowering Local Artists
Each year, we help local artists and arts organizations get their work in front of half a million people in our area. But our support goes beyond exposure. Our initiatives provide artists with financial support, professional development, administrative resources, and networking opportunities. This ensures they have the infrastructure needed to serve our communities through their art.
“This arts council is run on the philosophy that you teach people what they need to know, you encourage them, and then you encourage collaboration…They are giving us the tools as nonprofit artistic directors and managers that we need to operate in a functional, sustainable way that allows us, rather than survive, to thrive.”
Hear Their Stories
64 Years of Serving Greater Greensboro
Since 1960, we’ve worked to support anchor institutions, artists, teachers, festivals, and public art.
Did you know that we?
- Raised $550,000 and purchased Carolina Theatre in the 1960’s to renovate and re-purpose for community needs.
- Produced the first CITYSTAGE, the Festival of Lights, and the Black American Arts Festival in the 1980’s, and the 17 Days Festival in the 2010’s.
- Launched a $5 million capital fund raising campaign to help expand and renovate the Greensboro Arts Center and restore the Carolina Theatre to its original grandeur in 1987. We UAC committed $1,406,000 to the City to assist in the expansion and renovation of the new Cultural Center.
- Became the lead agency of a four-county Emerging Artists grant program in the 1990’s.
- Along with the City of Greensboro, were selected for a three-year resident home to the National Folk Festival; at the culmination of the residency, the North Carolina Folk Festival was launched.
- Incubated Casa Azul of Greensboro, with it becoming a standalone nonprofit in 2016.
- Advocated and secured $3 M in ARPA funding ($500K from NCAC and $2.5 M from Guilford County) to drive our current focus on sustainability and resilience within the arts community through the New Creative Investment.
- Launched and expanded a shared services program in the 2020’s to support 12 organizations, providing financial and personnel management assistance.
Find Your Next Art Adventure
Art events happen almost daily in Greater Greensboro. Watch a show, take a class, listen to music. There’s something for every artistic interest. Browse our event directory to plan your next adventure.
“The support of The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro towards my scripted podcast, 'Code of Honor', is invaluable. I am thankful for their interest and belief in my artistic pursuits/expressions. Their steadfast acknowledgment of the importance of the arts in communities makes me honored to be supported by such an esteemed organization.”
Expanding the Arts in Greater Greensboro
We focus on providing financial, targeted support to help arts organizations and artists invest in high-return areas for future expansion and success. But we can’t do it alone. When you support The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro, you help improve life for everyone in our area.
“I wanted to take a moment to extend my heartfelt gratitude to you, for inviting us to the show at the Carolina Theater for the children that attend Triad Play Therapeutic After School. …For many of them, it was their first time attending a theater show and seeing their faces light up with excitement and wonder was priceless. Your dedication to providing enriching experiences for the children in our program is truly commendable, and we are incredibly grateful for your generosity. It’s through initiatives like yours that we can create lasting memories and inspire a love for the arts in the young minds we serve.”
See our grant funding over the past 20 years of supporting artists and arts organizations in Greater Greensboro. Hover over any section of the chart to see total grant dollars funded.
Our Work in Action
Stay up to date on art stories, news, and features on our blog. Updated monthly.
Help us continue to foster creativity and elevate artists and the arts in our communities.
