WFDD Triad Arts Archive: The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County

Triad Arts with David Ford

Listen to Triad Arts Up Close as broadcast at 8:35 a.m. & 5:44 p.m

The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County

July 24, 2012

The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County was the first locally established arts council in the country way back in 1949. Today there are hundreds of arts councils in the United States and they’re enriching the lives of millions of people. The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County impacts those communities as well as neighboring ones by raising funds for the arts, advocating for artists, and sponsoring events in conjunction with other arts organizations. The Council also provides lots of educational opportunities for students, doing its part to fill the gaps left behind from huge cuts in arts education funding throughout the region.

They’ve played a huge role in spurring economic development here as well. The Triad’s thriving arts scene makes The City of Arts and Innovation an attractive destination for job recruitment and retention. By strengthening our cultural resources, the arts council generates hundreds of fulltime jobs, and millions of dollars in tax revenue. The primary source of funding comes through the Arts Council United Annual Arts Campaign which wraps up in September. Winston-Salem attorney and Chair of the Arts Campaign Leon Porter recently to a break from fundraising to chat with TAUC host David Ford.