ArtsGreensboro Announces 2016 Fabric of Freedom Series, Presented in Conjunction with the National Folk Festival and 17DAYS

The series celebrates Greensboro’s unique history as a crucible for freedom & social justice

"Greensboro, N.C., August 18, 2016 — ArtsGreensboro President and CEO Tom Philion and Fabric of Freedom Coordinator Katy Clune today announced the schedule of free Fabric of Freedom arts events taking place throughout September during both the National Folk Festival, running September 9 – 11, and the 17DAYS Arts & Culture Festival running September 9 – 25.

During the announcement, gospel singer Mary D. Williams of Garner, N.C., who will lead a Fabric of Freedom event, “Music from the Movement,” on Sunday, September 18, at the O.Henry Hotel, provided a preview of her performance.

In its second year, the Fabric of Freedom series celebrates Greensboro’s history as a crucible for freedom and social justice. It is presented by ArtsGreensboro and funded by a National Endowment for the Arts “Our Town” grant, with major support from the AJ Fletcher Foundation and Lincoln Financial Foundation.  

“Freedom movements and social justice activism are as integral to Greensboro as its railroads,” explained Philion. “Fabric of Freedom is a series of arts programs that celebrate the diversity and cultural history of Greensboro. We are thrilled to be able to present Fabric of Freedom events in association with the National Folk Festival, which showcases the rich traditions of all Americans, and 17DAYS, which shines a light on our city’s diverse art organizations.”

Even before Greensboro was founded in 1808, freedom was a rallying cry for its residents. Greensboro is named for Revolutionary War Major General Nathanael Greene, a “fighting Quaker” who led American troops against the British at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in 1781. In the early 1800s, Quakers established the southern-most point of the Underground Railroad on the campus of present-day Guilford College. On February 1, 1960, four North Carolina A&T students asked to be served at the downtown Woolworth’s whites-only lunch counter. Since the 1970s, the city has welcomed new immigrants and refugees. In 2014, the Greensboro City Council passed a resolution naming Greensboro a Welcoming City “that celebrates the growing diversity of its residents.”

Upcoming Fabric of Freedom programs include:

Fabric of Freedom First Friday Kickoff

Fri., Sept. 2, 5 – 9:30 pm

Tour the International Civil Rights Museum for free from 5 – 6:30 pm. Then head over to Government Plaza at 7 pm for a one-night-only throwback concert by N.C. soul legends from Odyssey 5 and The Eliminators.

ON SITE AT THE NATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL

Freedom in the Gate City Timeline

See key moments in Greensboro’s history of social justice.

#WeaveTheTent Hands-on Activity

Sat., Sept. 10 & Sun., Sept. 11, 12 – 5 pm

N.C. Folklife Area

Lend a hand and help weave a “Fabric of Freedom” for Greensboro. No skills or materials required. Community weavings will become part of Welcoming the Stranger, an exhibit opening at Guilford College, on September 14.

What’s Your North Carolina Story?

Sat., Sept. 10 & Sun., Sept. 11, 12 – 5 pm

N.C. Folklife Area

Step into our storytelling Airstream trailer and share your N.C. experience. The photos and stories collected will be added to the collection of the Greensboro Historical Museum.

THROUGHOUT 17DAYS

Objects from the Borderlands: The U.S.-Mexico Border Anti-Archive

Fri., Sept. 2 – Sat., Oct. 1

Reception: Sat., Sept. 17, 5 – 8 pm

Since 2007, artist Susan Harbage Page has walked the Texas-Mexico border, collecting the ordinary objects people leave behind on their journey into the U.S.

Greensboro Project Space | 219 W Lewis Street

Traditions of Protest in North Carolina

Fri., Sept. 2 – Sun., Oct. 2

This exhibit places Greensboro’s protest history into a larger state context. Organized by the North Carolina Folklore Society.

PB & Java | 616 North Elm Street

Greensboro is Our Home: Storytelling

Tues., Sept. 13, 7 – 9 pm

Several of the city’s voices for freedom—from the 1960s to now—reveal the true tales of triumph and danger they faced.

Gibb’s Hundred | 117 W Lewis Street

Welcoming the Stranger

Wed., Sept. 14 – Sun., Oct 30

Opening reception: Wed., Sept. 14, 5:30 – 7 pm

Inspired by the parable of Abraham welcoming strangers into his home, artist Jo Israelson seeks to turn strangers into friends.

Hege Library, Guilford College | 5800 W Friendly Ave.

Artist Talk: Hank Willis Thomas

Thurs., Sept. 15, 7 pm

The artist discusses his current exhibition, Unbranded, A Century of White Women, 1915 – 2015. RSVP: weatherspoon.uncg.edu.

Weatherspoon Art Museum | 500 Tate Street

The Allen Boys: Sacred Steel of North Carolina

Fri., Sept. 16, 6 – 8 pm

The Allen Boys, our state’s only touring sacred steel guitar band, bring their rollicking sound to Greensboro.

Lawn, Greensboro Historical Museum| 130 Summit Ave.

Underground Railroad Walking Tour

Sat., Sept. 17, 11 am

The southern terminus of the Underground Railroad was established in the forests of present-day Guilford College. RSVP: nationalfolkfestival.com/fabric-of-freedom.

Guilford College | 5800 W Friendly Ave

“Stacked” ACTIVIST Art Receptions

Sat., Sept. 17, 5 – 8 pm

See Peace and Restoration for Self-Determination at Bennett (artist remarks at 6 pm), then take a complimentary shuttle to GPS to view Objects from the Borderlands (artist remarks at 7 pm).

Bennett College and Greensboro Project Space

Peace and Restoration for Self-Determination

Sat., Sept. 17 – Sun., Oct. 30

Opening reception: Sat., Sept. 17, 5 – 8 pm

Through photo collage and installations, artist Shani Peters honors past social resistance and motivates today’s activists.

Steele Hall Gallery, Bennett College

900 E. Washington St.  | Open by appt. | 845-405-9159

Music from the Movement

Sun., Sept. 18, 4:30 – 6:30 pm

Join singer Mary D. Williams on a journey through the songs of the Civil Rights era. RSVP: NationalFolkFestival.com/fabric-of-freedom

O.Henry Hotel | 624 Green Valley Road

Curator Talk: Media and Message

Fri., Sept. 23, 12:15 pm

Weatherspoon curator Emily Stamey places Hank Williams Thomas’ artwork in the context of other artists who use media images to address social activist themes.

Weatherspoon Art Museum | 500 Tate Street

Hidden Histories of Greensboro

Sat., Sept. 24, 1– 5 pm

Take tours of the South Elm Street neighborhood created by artists Chloë Bass and Samara Smith (1 – 3 pm). At 3 pm, return to Elsewhere for an artist presentation and a neighborhood reception.

Elsewhere | 606 South Elm Street

Dislocate: Contemporary Dance and Conversation

Sat., Sept. 24, 7 pm

Sarah Council’s Dislocate is a physical inquiry into stories of courage, expectation, disappointment, and sacrifice.

Little Theatre, Bennett College | 900 E. Washington St.

Asian Pacific American Celebration

Sun., Sept. 25, 2 – 5 pm

Celebrate the Smithsonian traveling exhibition, I Want the Wide American Earth: An Asian Pacific American Story.

Greensboro Historical Museum | 130 Summit Avenue

For more information, visit NationalFolkFestival.com/fabric-of-freedom

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About ArtsGreensboro: With an annual budget of approximately $3.5 million, ArtsGreensboro is a catalyst for innovation to build recognition and support for the arts. Through its ArtsFund-supported grant programs, the 17DAYS Arts & Culture Festival, the Levitt AMP Greensboro Music Series, I HEART ARTS Month, and other opportunities including the National Folk Festival and the soon-to-be-opened Van Dyke Performance Space, ArtsGreensboro is driving the health and vitality of our community by supporting arts education, celebrating the diversity of Greensboro, and driving economic impact through excellence in arts programming. artsgreensboro.org

About the 2016 National Folk Festival: Co-produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) and ArtsGreensboro, the National Folk Festival is celebrating the second year of its three-year residency in downtown Greensboro in 2016. The FREE, three-day event is America’s longest-running festival of traditional arts. nationalfolkfestival.com

About 17DAYS: Hosted by ArtsGreensboro, the 17DAYS Arts & Culture Festival is a public-service, collaborative listing of fall arts and cultural events produced by dozens of independent organizations, artists, and presenters. Now entering its sixth year, 17DAYS has become North Carolina’s largest collaborative festival, featuring more than 100 events, exhibitions, and performances each year. The 2016 festival will take place from September 9 through September 25. For more information, visit 17DAYSGreensboro.org or call Kaitlin Smith at 336-373-7523, x246."

- A Press Release

National Folk Festival Announces Call for Artisans and Craftspeople to Participate in North Carolina Arts Marketplace, presented by PNC

Building on 2015 success, Marketplace will be expanded for

2016 Festival, in downtown Greensboro Sept. 9-11, 2016

To be considered by the Marketplace jury, prospective vendors’ applications must be received by April 11, 2016

"Greensboro, N.C., March 10, 2016 — Artisans and craftspeople who can provide a unique shopping experience for thousands of National Folk Festival attendees are invited to submit applications to participate in the North Carolina Arts Marketplace, presented by PNC, at the 2016 Festival. In 2015, the 75^th National Folk Festival attracted more than 102,000 attendees to downtown Greensboro for the FREE, three-day weekend. Organizers expect attendance to increase by as much as 30% or more in 2016.

Based on the success of the North Carolina Arts Marketplace at the 2015 National Folk Festival, organizers plan to expand the marketplace in 2016.

In keeping with the National Folk Festival’s overarching focus on the traditional arts, culture, and heritage of North Carolinians and all Americans, the Arts Marketplace will feature the juried, handmade creations of the finest artists and craftspeople from the North Carolina region. Local Festival Director Amy Grossmann said, “The Arts Marketplace has two goals: 1) to provide our region’s most talented artists with an outlet to exhibit and sell their creations; and, 2) to provide festival-goers with an opportunity to take home truly unique, hand-crafted mementos.”

Online applications are preferred and must be submitted by 11:59 pm on Monday, April 11, 2016. Hard-copy applications will be accepted if postmarked by April 11, 2016. A panel comprised of North Carolina artists and arts leaders will evaluate all applications.

Applications and Marketplace Vendor Guidelines are available at nationalfolkfestival.com/marketplace. Application packages should include the completed application, four to six images of the work the vendor intends to sell, a booth image (if available), and a non-refundable $30 application fee.

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About the 2016 National Folk Festival: Co-produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) and ArtsGreensboro, the National Folk Festival is celebrating the second year of its three-year residency in downtown Greensboro in 2016. The FREE, three-day event is America’s longest-running festival of traditional arts. nationalfolkfestival.com

About the National Folk Festival: Since it was first presented in St. Louis in 1934, the National Folk Festival has celebrated the roots, richness, and variety of American culture. Championed in its early years by Eleanor Roosevelt, it was the first event of national stature to present the arts of many nations, races, and languages on equal footing. An exuberant traveling festival that embraces the diverse cultural expressions of the American people in the 21st century, the National Folk Festival is FREE to the public, and is produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) in partnership with communities around the country.

About the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA): The National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) is one of the nation’s premier non-profit cultural organizations dedicated to the presentation and documentation of folk, tribal, and ethnic arts in the United States. Founded in 1933, it is the nation’s oldest producing and presenting organization with such a focus. Its programs celebrate and honor deeply rooted cultural expressions—music, crafts, stories, and dance passed on through time by families and communities as well as by tribal, ethnic, and occupational groups. The NCTA stresses excellence and authenticity in presenting artists to the public in festivals, tours, concerts, media programs, exhibitions, recordings, and other activities, and works in partnership with communities across American to establish new, sustainable traditional arts events that bring lasting social, cultural, and economic benefits. www.ncta-usa.org

About ArtsGreensboro: With an annual budget of approximately $4 million, ArtsGreensboro is a catalyst for innovation to build recognition and support for the arts. Through its ArtsFund-supported grant programs, the 17DAYS Arts & Culture Festival, the Levitt AMP Greensboro Music Series, I HEART ARTS Month, and other opportunities including the National Folk Festival, ArtsGreensboro is driving the health and vitality of our community by supporting arts education, celebrating the diversity of Greensboro, and driving economic impact through excellence in arts programming. artsgreensboro.org"

- A Press Release

ArtsGreensboro Announces $1.1 million ArtsFund Goal and Introduces Honorary Campaign Co-Chairs

Songwriter/singer Laurelyn Dossett and Cone Health

VP Bill Porter will oversee the campaign

Greensboro, N.C., December 9, 2015 — ArtsGreensboro President and CEO Tom Philion announced a $1.1 million goal for the organization’s 2016 ArtsFund campaign.

Monies raised through the ArtsFund enable ArtGreensboro to provide major support to more than 50 arts organizations, artists, and teachers each year. For fiscal year 2016 (running July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016), ArtsGreensboro will provide local grants and community support totaling approximately $1.03 million. When the National Folk Festival and the Van Dyke Performance Space are taken into account, ArtsGreensboro will invest approximately $3 million in the community in FY16.

At a Campaign Kickoff event held at VCM Studio in Greensboro this evening, Philion introduced the 2016 ArtsFund Honorary Co-Chairs:

·      Songwriter/singer Laurelyn Dossett, who has collaborated on six original Triad Stage productions, including Beautiful Star, which is running through December 24, and

·      Bill Porter, Vice Chair of ArtsGreensboro’s Board and Vice President – Office of Fund Development for Cone Health.

Dossett provided an artist’s perspective. “I write songs to find new ways to communicate timeless concepts of joy and sorrow, love and longing, grief and celebration,” she said. “That’s what artists—no matter their medium—aspire to do.” Dossett underscored how important ArtsGreensboro’s support is to our entire community—especially artists, who receive funding through the Regional Artist grant program, and students, who benefit from dynamic K-12 arts education programs funded by Teacher Art grants, Mission Support grants, and Project Support grants.

Donations to the ArtsFund make all these grants possible.

Porter discussed the importance of the arts from a business perspective. “The arts are the lifeblood of our community and are a catalyst for accelerated investments in downtown. They are a major contributor to Greensboro’s renaissance,“ Porter said. “Businesses want to invest in strong communities—and the ArtsFund strengthens our community every day.”

Philion recognized ArtsGreensboro grant recipients in the audience, telling them how honored ArtsGreensboro is to support their efforts. One grant recipient, David Holley, Artistic Director of the Greensboro Opera, gave an impromptu testimonial for ArtsGreensboro, explaining that the grants awarded to the Opera support its educational programs, including “Meet Cinderella,” an event that took place in conjunction with the Opera’s production of La Cenerentola in August 2015.

Philion closed the evening by underscoring the importance of supporting the ArtsFund. “What many people don’t realize is that the ArtsFund is ‘real-time’ fundraising. ArtsGreensboro has already committed to provide grants this year to more than 50 arts organizations, teachers, and artists. And now—with the leadership of Laurelyn and Bill, and with the community’s help—we must raise the funds to fulfill those critical grants.”

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About ArtsGreensboro

With an annual budget of approximately $4 million, ArtsGreensboro is a catalyst for innovation to build recognition and support for the arts. Through its ArtsFund-supported grant programs, the 17DAYS Arts & Culture Festival, I HEART ARTS Month, and other opportunities including the National Folk Festival, ArtsGreensboro is driving the health and vitality of our community by supporting arts education, celebrating the diversity of Greensboro, and driving economic impact through excellence in arts programming. artsgreensboro.org"

- A Press Release