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Inside Arts - Fall 2003 Edition
United Arts Fund Drive Meets GoalHard working volunteers, a new workplace giving initiative and strong leadership made the 2003 United Arts Fund Drive a success. Exceeding the goal of $154,000, the United Arts Fund Drive will help provide money for grant programs, arts in education projects and special events. Chairman Bruce Hodge, whose day job is Vice President and Gaston County Executive for First National Bank, began the campaign with a promise and a vision. At the kick-off on January 23, he acknowledged that economic times would make the campaign difficult. But he pointed out that the United Arts Council was created by the Gaston Chamber of Commerce, which recognized the importance of the arts in attracting businesses. “What’s good for the quality of life in Gaston County is also good for business,” he said. Under the direction of Board Member Wayne Dunn, the workplace giving campaign reached five new businesses in its first year and exceeded its goal by 34 percent. Money raised during the fund drive will provide operational grants for the Arts Council’s five funded affiliates: Gaston Dance Theatre, Gaston School of the Arts, Gaston Choral Society, Gaston County Art Guild and Gaston Concert Association. The money will also be matched to provide Grassroots project grants, awarded annually through an application process to non-profit organizations that offer cultural programming. United Arts Fund money also is used for the Arts Council’s partnership with the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in the GAINS arts integration project at Ida Rankin Elementary School. The money raised here in Gaston County is leveraged to obtain grants and awards from the state and federal government to fund the Arts Council’s programming initiatives and administrative costs. Thanks to the following individuals who helped make the 2003 United Arts Fund Drive a success: Bruce Hodge First National Bank Wayne Dunn PostmasterSteve Huffstetler Citizens South BankSimon Roe Community LeaderDan Boyd Citizens South BankRob Collis Collis & Associates CPADr. Kevin DiBella Chiropractic Health and Accident CenterDr. Dave Kirlin Gaston Foot and Ankle Associates & City CouncilmanCelia Billings Caromont HealthDavid Layton Gray, Layton, Kersh, Solomon, Sigmon, Furr & Smith, PABarbara Cozort Community LeaderSteve Case Case TireDr. Ed Silvoy PhysicianVerne Deason Fidelity BankNan Kirlin Community LeaderBeady Waddell Edward Jones Investments
New Board Members Start TermsThe United Arts Council recently welcomed six new board members who will serve a three-year term: Nancy Albright Frame Gallery of Gastonia, Inc. Tory Borne Partnership for Children of Gaston and Lincoln CountiesNan Bridgeman Community Leader Viella Mason Community Leader Danny McBee Sam’s ClubBen Beasley American & EfirdA Taste of Unity offers a Full Menu of Fun On Oct. 25, A Taste of Unity will be held in the parking lot and throughout the building at Unity Place, 201 W. Franklin Blvd. In its second year, this mini-fest’s purpose is to highlight the activities of the partners and resident groups at Unity Place. Sponsored by The United Arts Council, St. Stephens AME Zion Church and Unity Place, a Taste of Unity will offer live music, food, arts and demonstrations for the entire family. The festival will be held 11 am-2 pm. Admission is free. A Taste of Unity was designed by all the partners and tenants of Unity Place to offer the public a glimpse into the varied activities that go on in this community-centered haven for the arts and spirituality. Unity Place, created four years ago through a partnership of St. Stephens AME Zion Church and the United Arts Council of Gaston County, has grown into a center for church services, concerts, recitals, art exhibits and classes. It houses St. Stephens, the Arts Council offices, Gaston Dance Theatre, Gaston School of the Arts and provides a home for Gaston Concert Association, the Gaston Choral Society and the Gaston County Art Guild, Gaston Chordweavers and the Piedmont Fiber Guild. Unity Place also has an After School Care program, which offers tutoring, character development, homework help, Spanish lessons and a place for kids to play. Many of these groups will be on hand Oct. 25 to offer information, to perform or offer children’s arts activities. Tour the building, try your hand at scratch art, view the works of members of the Art Guild and learn how your child can become an actor at Gaston School of the Arts Playhouse. And since all that activity will build up an appetite, lunch will be on sale for $5. You can choose to heap your plate with Soul Food, Mexican or Barbeque. For more information call the United Arts Council at 704-853-2787. Volunteers? Yes, Please The United Arts Council is always looking for volunteers of any age to help with a variety of services. Work as much as you like and set your own hours. Call Community Resource Coordinator Heidi Flick if you are interested in volunteer opportunities. See how your interests can help us grow! Following is a brief summary of volunteer opportunities at the Arts Council: Special Events – The UAC produces concerts by regional orchestras during the holidays. We also hold Pops in the Park each June. Volunteers are needed for mailings, ushering, selling tickets, serving on planning committees/marketing, distributing or hanging posters around county. Box Office – We are currently in the process of establishing a central box office for Gaston County arts groups at Unity Place, 201 W. Franklin Blvd. We will need volunteers to sell tickets by phone and walk-ups, answer phones, help with mailing of brochures and information. General Office Work – Volunteers are needed periodically for mailings, updating our website, distributing Encore! to area businesses and clerical duties. Speakers Bureau – With some training, volunteers would address civic clubs and businesses about the work of the United Arts Council. The majority of these speaking engagements would be during our annual United Arts Fund Drive, which runs from January 15 to April 1 each year. But opportunities will come throughout the year, as well. Board Members – 26 arts groups are included under the umbrella of the United Arts Council. Many of them are continually looking for new board members to help guide their organizations. Bon Voyage!Announcing the upcoming launch of a new and improved website for the UAC, with the help of Board Member Candy Thomas of Thomas Advertising. With its dynamic new look and easy navigation, it should provide smooth sailing for those cruising the arts web. Look for it soon. The address will remain the same, so if you want to see the before and after, visit now. Be sure to mark your calendars for upcoming events sponsored by affiliate organizations of The United Arts Council
The Mac Frampton Trio will be the opening concert for the 2003-2004 series sponsored by the Gaston Concert Association . The performance will be held 7:30 pm Oct. 2 at First Presbyterian Church. Gaston Dance Theatre presents the Fall Celebration of Dance, a variety of dance numbers choreographed by faculty at GDT. Features tap, ballet and modern dances. Performances will be 8 pm Oct. 3 and 4; 2:30 pm Oct. 5 at the Warlick Performing Arts Center at Gaston Day School. A Taste of Unity , a fun-filled day of activities, will be held at Unity Place, 201 W. Franklin Blvd. Entertainment, kids activities and an international menu and tours will be sponsored by Unity Place, St. Stephens AME Zion Church and the United Arts Council of Gaston County. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 25. For more information call 704-853-2905. Gaston School of the Arts Playhouse will present “Alice in Wonderland” Nov. 6-9 at the newly renovated auditorium at Piedmont Community Charter School. Auditions, which are open to all second to ninth graders, will be held 3 p.m. Sept. 21 and 6 p.m. Sept. 22. For more information call 704-866-8001. November 18 is the opening for “A Visual Harvest,” the annual show sponsored by the Gaston County Art Guild. The show will be held this year at the Jeanne Rauch Gallery in the Rauch Science and Fine Arts Building on the Dallas campus of Gaston College. Gallery hours are 9 am-5 pm Monday-Thursday and 9 am- 2pm Friday. Call 704-922-6245 for more information. The exhibit runs through Jan. 8, 2004.
Bel Canto Choir from Greensboro will perform 7:30 p.m. Nov. 22 at First Baptist Church as part of the Gaston Concert Association series. The Nutcracker, the classic holiday ballet, will be performed by Gaston Dance Theatre Dec. 12-14 at the Warlick Performing Arts Center at Gaston Day School. For ticket information call 704-865-5943. The Gaston Choral Society presents its holiday concert 8 p.m. December 19 and 20 at Unity Place. For ticket information call 704-864-8028. Your Name Here The United Arts Council is seeking corporate arts supporters! We need sponsors for our Dec. 5 holiday concert featuring the Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra at Unity Place, and for Pops in the Park, an annual event that attracts 5,000 people to a free, outdoor symphony concert at Dallas Park. Corporate sponsors’ benefits include (where appropriate): free tickets; logos featured in all publicity and press releases; banners or appropriate signage; verbal recognition at the event. We also are seeking sponsors for the 2004 Kaleidoscope Hands-On Art Fair; a Central Box Office at Unity Place; and the 2003-2004 Inside Arts publication. For more information and a sponsor packet call Kathleen Macdonald, Director of Marketing and Development, 704-853-ARTS. Making a Difference Thanks to our top donors for the 2003 United Arts Fund Drive: Partners
R.L. Stowe Foundation Directors American & Efird Associated Foundation Belmont and Gastonia employees of Allen Tate Co. BB&T Bell South First Gaston Foundation Gastonia East Rotary Club The Gaston Gazette Standard Distributors, Inc. Time Warner Cable Wachovia Corporation
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Inside Arts 
