Fayetteville Boasts Art Offerings as Diverse as its Citizens
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To get a picture of the arts in Fayetteville‚ imagine a painting with vibrant colors swirling together. While each color is distinct‚ they enhance one another.
It is an image of diversity as well as cohesiveness‚ of individuality as well as community. Area artists say it’s a fitting snapshot of the city and the arts community.
“We have a good wealth of art forms and a lot of diversity in style‚” says Greg Hathaway‚ a watercolor painter. “Fayetteville and Cumberland County is really a melting pot because of Fort Bragg. And you see these ethnic appreciations in the art.”
The thousands of artists‚ actors and musicians who make up the arts community are as passionate about enriching the region’s quality of life and culture as they are about their artistic endeavors.
“With art‚ the quality of life in your community is better‚” Hathaway says.
Business leaders‚ government officials and residents seem to agree.
The Fayetteville Area Chamber of Commerce has created a $5‚000 visual arts fellowship awarded annually to an artist in the 11-county region.
In another show of support‚ the community recently passed a one-and-a-half-cent increase in the hotel-motel tourism tax to fund arts-related programs.
These monies‚ about $600‚000 annually‚ will enable the Arts Council to plan‚ create and fund programs throughout the year. Plenty of existing arts programs will benefit.
In the visual arts arena‚ both traditional and contemporary painters and sculptors are represented – many of them working at the Cape Fear Studios‚ a nonprofit art gallery and working studio. They also showcase their work in area galleries and at festivals.
The Fayetteville Museum of Art organizes prestigious traveling exhibitions‚ and the Museum of the Cape Fear – one of three regional branches of the North Carolina Museum of History – features exhibits that reflect the area’s history.
At the highly regarded Cape Fear Regional Theatre‚ all kinds of productions – from Shakespeare and American classics to musicals and children’s theater – are staged.
The theater also sponsors the River Show‚ a musical event on the banks of the Cape Fear River each May.
“We want to make the theater more accessible to a broad sector of the people in the region‚” says Bo Thorp‚ artistic director of Cape Fear Regional Theater. “We want to make people feel that theater is available and to be enjoyed by all.”
From classical music performances by the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra to poetry readings‚ there is an art event to please just about everyone in Fayetteville.
“We have quilters‚ square dancers‚ basket weavers‚ photographers‚ a strong literary community‚” says Deborah Mintz‚ executive director of the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County‚ which represents 60 arts organizations. “Whatever your interest‚ there’s something for you to do. We have professionals and new people growing and learning.
“Some people see Fayetteville as a small place‚” she adds‚ “but when they get involved with the artistic area‚ they are amazed at the treasure we have.”
Story by Joanne Mamenta
Photo by Greg Emens
