Arts and Culture

“Before a child talks, they sing. Before they write, they draw. As soon as they stand, they dance. Art is fundamental to human expression.” – Phylicia Rashad

Collectively, the words Arts and Culture speak volumes as they define us, who we are, what we believe in and strive to accomplish today, and what we leave for future generations. Combined, the focus of the Arts & Culture Community Service Program is the processes and products of human creativity and social life, such as languages, literature, imagination, developing the technical ability to create something from nothing, and the capacity to bridge the things that separate us from one another; age, education, location, religion, or economic disparity. Arts and Culture create common ground on which to build a mutual understanding and respect of one for the other.

2024-2026 GFWC-NC Arts and Culture CSP Chairman: Kelley Purdue

2024-2026 GFWC-NC Arts and Culture Junior CSP Chairman: Caroline Fulcher

COMMUNITY CONNECTION INITIATIVE: Developing Community Orientated Art

GFWC encourages clubs to take an active role in creating and enhancing their community by partnering with their City Government, Chamber of Commerce, local schools, and other organizations (i.e., Art League or Artist Guild) to create mural paintings throughout their city or town.

Murals that highlight the local culture and display pride in their town’s history and traditions, as well as showcase local celebrities or figures prominent in the historical legacy of the community.

Murals can be located on city property and schools, as well as local businesses.

For more information and project ideas, log in to the member portal

GFWC OF NORTH CAROLINA ARTS FESTIVAL

Clubs from across the state bring student and clubwoman crafts, visual arts, and photography to the Annual State Arts Festival, which is held in March. Arts Festival guidelines can be found in the GFWC-NC Administration Book – Appendix A. For questions, contact Misty Deyo, 2024-2026 GFWC-NC Arts Festival Chairman. The GFWC-NC Artfest contest is held each year at the State Arts Festival. The purpose is to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of North Carolina’s developmentally disabled citizens, particularly in the five North Carolina Developmental Disabilities Centers. The contest focuses on the elements of Life, Liberty, and Happiness and more information can be found in the GFWC-NC Arts Festival Brochure.

For questions, contact Misty Deyo, 2024-2026 GFWC-NC Arts Festival Chairman.

GFWC OF NORTH CAROLINA HISTORY

1932 – Assisted in launch of the North Carolina Symphony.
1963 – First state to endow a Chair for the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
1967 – First Arts Festival held outside of Convention.
1985 – Whitener Piano Scholarship instituted for high school seniors pursuing a music degree.
1989 – Organized Artfest-An arts and crafts competition for mentally and physically challenged North Carolina citizens.
2002 – Established the Lucy Bramlette Patterson Creative Writing Student Award at Salem College which is presented in honor of a North Carolina female writer.