Celebrity Buskers Promote Arts Council Campaign at Gallery Hop Winston-Salem personalities reveal their talent Friday, Sept. 5

     

"The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County has lined up an impressive bill of talented, local celebrity “buskers” to perform at the Friday, Sept. 5, Arts District Gallery Hop. Headliners include Arts Council President and CEO, Jim Sparrow, playing the clarinet; County Manager Dudley Watt, banjo; Winston-Salem Monthly editor Michael Breedlove and twin brother on guitar and percussion;  Michael Hastings, Winston-Salem journal Food Editor, on guitar and vocals; Tommy Priest, Krankie’s Airstream, vocals; David Ford, host, Triad Arts, WFDD radio, jazz keyboard; Cameron Kent, WXII TV news anchor and author, guitar; Mary Siebert, Arts Director at Arts Based School, guitar and cowboy songs; and Eddie Garcia, Jews and Catholics band, guitar.

     

     The Arts Council’s 2014 campaign goal is $2.65 million  “We are at 82 percent of goal with a few weeks to go, “ said Catherine New, The Arts Council’s Vice President for Development. “We have a host of devoted, high-energy volunteers engaged who are doing a great job, but the last money is always the hardest in any campaign.  Having ‘celebrity buskers’ at Gallery Hop is a way to draw attention to the fact that we are at a crucial place in the 2014 annual campaign and need the help of arts supporters – young and old –to make sure we have the funds necessary for the city’s many arts activities the Council helps fund, including arts education programs in our schools.”

    The “buskers” will not be taking contributions, but volunteers on site in front of Trade Street’s  Red Dog Gallery will have information about The Arts Council’s Annual Campaign and how to participate.  Northwest Ward City Council member, Jeff MacIntosh, will be on hand to greet Gallery Hop revelers along with Stephen Mulligan, new conductor of the Winston-Salem Symphony, and Chad Nance, editor, Camel City Dispatch..

     Campaign Chair Jeff Lindsay, COO at Novant Health, noted two significant matching challenge grants that have been issued -- a $50,000 challenge by Reynolds American Foundation to encourage new corporate giving and a $25,000 challenge from Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center to incentivize workplace giving campaigns.  “At this point,” said Lindsay, “every contribution – large or small – makes a difference in getting to our goal.  I hope people will attend Gallery Hop on Friday, September 5, enjoy music provided by our celebrity buskers and resolve to make a contribution to The Arts Council campaign at this critical juncture.”

     Contributions can be made to The Arts Council’s 2014 Annual Campaign by going on line to intothearts.org or mailing a contribution to The Arts Council at 206 North Spruce Street, Suite 5. Winston-Salem, NC  27101

     Winston-Salem’s robust arts community accounts in large part for the recognition it continues to receive as a great place to live, work and play.  The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, the first locally established arts council in the United States, enriches the lives of area residents every day. It raises funds and advocates for the arts, sponsors events in conjunction with other arts organizations, promotes and funds arts education, creates cultural opportunities, develops social capital and aids economic development.  In 2013, The Arts Council made Organizational Support Grants to 19 Funded Partners totaling $1,675,000 and other grants brought the total awarded to $1,905,000."

- A Press Release