Art to Come

Executive Director's Message...

Vann P. Noblett

The United Arts Council of Gaston County is 24 years old as of September 2003! We celebrate by strengthening our commitment to develop, enhance, advance and sustain the cultural life of our community.

Why was the United Arts Council formed? The Gaston Chamber of Commerce and the business community formed the United Arts Council in 1979 when they recognized how the arts add to the quality of life of residents and the value that the arts add to the local economy. The Council has grown considerably since it was formed and now works with over 25 local cultural organizations. The Council also manages four grant programs with over $314,900 being returned to the community last year alone! The Council continues to grow through partnerships with businesses, schools, individuals and foundations.

Where is the United Arts Council located? The Council houses its office in Unity Place (the former First Baptist Church on Franklin Boulevard). The building is named “Unity Place” because of its unique partnership between the United Arts Council and St. Stephens AME Zion Church – which is also housed in the building. The other groups located in Unity Place include: Gaston Dance Theatre, Gaston School of the Arts, Gaston County Art Guild, Gaston Choral Society, Greater Gaston Chordweavers and Piedmont Fiber Guild. Want to take a painting class at the same time your daughter learns classical ballet and your son takes his weekly guitar lesson? Maybe attend a lecture on visual art while your children rehearse for their part in the upcoming musical put on the GSOA Children’s Playhouse? All this is possible with just one trip to Unity Place!

What does the United Arts Council do? The United Arts Council is a 501(C) (3) nonprofit organization. One of the major roles of the Council is to fundraise. The funds are used to provide support for cultural programming presented in Gaston County. The “Operational Assistance Grant” program is one of the ways funds are distributed to programming agencies. This grant offers operational assistance to the Council’s five funded affiliate organizations. The agencies supported through this program are: Gaston Choral Society, Gaston Concert Association, Gaston County Art Guild, Gaston Dance, and Gaston School of the Arts.

The council also provides financial help to individual artists seeking a professional career called “Regional Artist” grants. In addition, the Council provides grants to nonprofit groups that provide cultural programs called “Grassroots Grant Program.” All of are grant programs are administered through an application and panel review process.

Another grant program that the Council offers in “Arts in Education”. Currently, the focus is on a project called GAINS - Gaston Arts Integration Nurtures Success, a name chosen by the teachers at Ida Rankin Elementary School, represents a partnership between the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Education Institute, Gaston County Schools, the Arts Council and the Gaston County Public Library. This model program, taught in grades K-5 at Ida Rankin in Mount Holly, is designed to strengthen classroom teaching and enhance student learning in core subjects using the arts as a learning tool. Kindergartners learn about pattern sequences through artwork, first graders learn about Native American culture through tribal storytellers dressed in full regalia. Ida Rankin Elementary School had the highest end-of-grade marks (97.5) in Gaston County this year. Teachers at Rankin attributed the high-test scores to the GAINS program. The long-range plan is to expand the GAINS program in Gaston County.

In addition to providing supplemental funds for the county’s cultural groups, the Council acts as a resource and assists them regularly in matters of planning, budgeting, marketing, membership/board development and sharing of resources. The Council encourages and develops partnership efforts among these groups to ensure maximization of resources. The Council also manages the Arts at Unity Place facility subleasing the various spaces to member agencies.

The United Arts Council may undertake projects if there is a need within the community that is not currently being met by an existing organization. For example, a Children’s Hands-On Arts Fair called Kaleidoscope is in its 15th year and is brought to you by the United Arts Council. This event is held at Westfield Shopping Town Eastridge Mall in January and hosts approximately 650 children. Kids are encouraged to “get messy” and may do projects like paint, make a birdfeeder or work with clay. Local talent, such as singers and a magician, entertains them. The kids are encouraged to take home their treasures that they have made – and this all free of charge to participants.

Ever been to “Pops in the Park” at the Gaston County Park in Dallas? This is another example of programming that the United Arts Council itself provides. An audience of 5,000 usually attends this event where a professional symphony performs under the stars free of charge to all concertgoers.

Where does the funding come from for the Arts Council? The Arts Council receives money from state and local governments. But, that amount to only about 13% of our income. The majority of funding comes from local businesses and people like you! The Council raises those funds through an annual United Arts Fund Drive. This campaign, which kicks-off at the beginning of the year, is the only other united fund drive in Gaston County, the other being the United Way. Like the United Way raises money for human service organizations, the United Arts Council raises money for affiliated arts groups, cultural and educational programs, grant programs, scholarships for financially disadvantaged students, summer camps and outreach programs for underserved populations such as minorities and seniors. Your contribution is tax-deductible. And your contribution is well spent. And in 2002-03, only 7.4% of the United Arts Council budget was spent on administrative expenses. Earlier this year the North Carolina Arts Council rated the United Arts Council of Gaston County as one of the top arts councils in the state. As a result the NCAC has nominated our organization to the NC Center for Nonprofits for their 2003 Stewardship Award recognizing our “exemplary stewardship to fulfill public trust”.

Does the United Arts Council touch many lives? Absolutely! Take a look at these statistics for the 2002-03 year ending June 30 th :

• The Grassroots Grant Program served 70,990 residents

• Reached an additional 95,634 participants through the projects presented by organizations receiving Operational Assistance Grants

• Involved over 1,652 local, regional and statewide artists

• Over 750 volunteers participated in the arts

We invite you to become a participant of the Arts in Gaston County. Visit our website at www.GastonArts.org and take a look at the exciting programs and events available to you. Or, call us at 704-853-ARTS and become a volunteer for the Arts. As Beverly Sills once said, “Art is the signature of civilizations”. Be a part of all that makes Gaston County’s ‘signature’ unique and lasting.