Creative Greensboro Annual Report 2022-23

ANNUAL REPORT CREATIVE GREENSBORO

2022-2023

“Our Collective Table,” by Bevelyn Afor Ukah. Commissioned by Creative Greensboro.

CITY OF GREENSBORO OFFICE FOR ARTS & CULTURE

CREATIVE GREENSBORO MEET ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM

ABOUT US Founded in 2019, Creative Greensboro is the City of Greensboro’s office for arts and culture. Guided by the 2018 Cultural Arts Plan, we provide support for, ensure access to, and drive awareness of Greensboro’s creative community. Through a range of programs, services, and partnerships, we support the development support the recovery of the arts and culture sector by implementing initiatives that focus on sustainability and development for Greensboro artists and organizations. We are proud of the work we have done in partnership with individuals, artists and organizations across the city. We invite you to join us in our work. Together, we are Creative Greensboro. of a vibrant city. In 2022 2023 we continued to

Jocquelyn Boone* Chief Creative Economy Officer *Beginning August 2023 Ryan Deal** Chief Creative Economy Officer **Resigned February 2023 Josh Sherrick Business Services Manager Todd Fisher Performing Arts Coordinator Gina Fisher Special Events Coordinator Karen Archia Nick Helms Community Partnerships Coordinator David Cashwell Ethan Lodics Finance & Facility Operations Specialist

Zizi Barhouma Marketing & Events Specialist Meredith Gornto Programs & Operations Assistant Kris Ferris Christine Imrick Performance Space Assistants Alana Harrison Miranda Macasero Burke Miller Sanchi Pandey

Facility Assistants Tyler Dodrill Graduate Assistant

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Creative Greensboro Staff..................................................2 About Creative Greensboro...................................2 Creative Greensboro Programming Team....................3 Partners in the Community...............................4-6 Partners at the Greensboro Cultural Center.........................7-9 Creative Greensboro Presents.................................10-11 Cultural Affairs Commission....3

PROGRAMMING TEAM Jon Brotherton Michael Parker Donna Royster Choral Society of Greensboro

John Henry Jr. Matt Reid Greensboro Big Band

Index

Kiyoshi Carter Byron Grimes Susan Hunt Greensboro Concert Band David Covert Eve Hubbard Peter Perret Philharmonia of Greensboro

Patty Adkins Tab Barker Steve Davis Fia Goudes Keenan Harmon Randy Morris Fatou Njie Mayah Wells Drama Programming

The Cultural Affairs Commission advises Creative Greensboro, promotes our work, and acts as a liaison to City Council. The commission – created per the recommendation of the City’s 2018 Cultural Arts Plan – is comprised of people who represent the city’s demographics and offer a wide range of expertise and perspectives. At least 51 percent of members represent CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMISSION the creative community, including an entrepreneur, a K-12 arts educator, representatives of cultural organizations and a college or university, and a Greensboro Cultural Center tenant. In fiscal 2022-23, the commission served on artist selection committees, finalized a program for evaluating the impact of Greensboro Cultural Center tenants, and continued to act as advocates for Creative Greensboro. Members also helped launch and select winners of the Sustaining Creativity Grants.

COMMISSION MEMBERS

Douglas Bender Catena Bergevin Juliette Bianco Mignon Elkes Janay Green

Leigh Ann Little Victoria Milstein Janine Robledo Naomi Woods

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IN THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS

2022 GRANT RECIPIENTS $20,000

RECIPIENTS

This year, Creative Greensboro provided $400,005 to 18 local arts and culture nonprofits through its inaugural Sustaining Creativity: Community Partnership Grants program. This program expands Creative SUSTAINING CREATIVE ORGANIZATIONS

Carolina Theatre of Greensboro

Casa Azul of Greensboro Community Theatre of Greensboro Creative Aging Network Elsewhere

— Atiba Berkley Piedmont Blues Preservation Society Creative Greensboro is stepping up in a new way to support our work and our communities!

Greensboro’s support of nonprofit organizations that are not already recipients of significant resources from the City.

$25,715 Greensboro Children’s Museum Greensboro Literary Organization iAlign Dance Company Piedmont Blues Preservation Society Reconsidered Goods Royal Expressions Contemporary Ballet Triad Stage Hirsch Wellness Network Music Academy of North Carolina Music for a Great Space Preservation Greensboro, Inc. TAB Arts Center Triad Pride Performing Arts RECIPIENTS

These grants cater to nonprofit organizations engaged in creative programming, offering financial support for operational, administrative, and program-related needs. The program’s conception was guided by the City appointed Cultural Affairs Commission and aligns with Greensboro’s Cultural Arts Plan adopted in 2018. The grants acknowledge these creative nonprofits’ role in enhancing the local economy and generating jobs and revenue that contribute to community growth.

As a creative reuse organization, this funding provides an incredible opportunity for us to grow our capacity and increase our community impact.

— Catena Bergevin

Reconsidered Goods

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Creative Greensboro served as a local partner in the Americans for the Arts Prosperity Study research project. Creative Greensboro staff surveyed people at various local events, gathering insights from more than 2,000 participants . This collaborative effort delved into the intrinsic link between the arts and community well-being. STUDYING REGIONAL IMPACTS

By actively participating in data collection, Creative Greensboro not only contributed to a broader understanding of the arts’ impact but also demonstrated its commitment to fostering local creativity and cultural vibrancy. This initiative stands as a testament to the office’s dedication to enriching lives through artistic endeavors while strengthening the bonds that unite the community.

CELEBRATING TOGETHER

The Special Events office plays a pivotal role in nurturing community engagement by supporting various events such as the Festival of Lights, North Carolina Folk Festival, Fun Fourth and the Juneteenth Celebration.

I found the team to be helpful in providing resources and information during the planning process. On the day of the event, a few things did not go as we thought they would go but we adjusted, and the event turned out to be a huge success. It was great to have the Special Events team present at the event and to have Gina readily available to assist with any questions and/or concerns during the event.

These gatherings serve as vibrant platforms for cultural exchange and unity, illuminating the rich tapestry of Greensboro’s diverse population. Through meticulous planning and coordination, the office helps foster a sense of togetherness, celebrating traditions, and promoting the city’s inclusive spirit. Beginning in fiscal year 2023-24, Special Events realigned to be under the Parks and Recreation Department.

— Robyn Abdusamad

Greensboro Muslim Festival

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IN THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS

This year, Creative Greensboro continued to bring arts close to home and enhance our downtown’s built environment with the Neighborhood Arts and Downtown Arts programs. The Neighborhood Arts Residency Program expanded to include Random Woods and the Mill District . Each community hosted a professional artist for a six-month, $22,500 residency to offer arts experiences and create community-informed artwork. In the Mill District, artist Chuck Johnson created two crosswalk murals, one honoring textile workers and one that highlights the fruit trees in the area. Emilio Marz created a basketball court mural and backboard art in Random Woods Park with input for the designs from students at Alderman Elementary. Neighborhood Arts also hosted a poetry and visual art workshop for Dudley Heights at Barber Park, supported the Blues and Foods Market concert series near the Kings Forest neighborhood, and hosted story-telling and arts activities with artist Tamra Hunt at The People’s Market in Glenwood . Hunt’s work highlighted the Native/Indigenous community’s history in CONNECTING COMMUNITIES WITH CREATIVITY

Creative Greensboro aligns with my goals in that their platform provides a stage for creativity, inclusivity and connectedness. Creative Greensboro encourages artists to build on their skills and creates a public showcase for the community.

— Bevelyn Ukah Artist

My team and I were thrilled to work within the neighborhood to learn about its rich history to honor the mill workers of the past and to connect with residents today. This program sparked an interest in art and community- building within the neighborhood that feels very rewarding to me to be a part of it.

— Chuck Johnson

Mill District Artist in Residence

including the eagle feather, figures representing family, and a hair braid. In its second year, the Downtown Arts program chose 10 artists to be featured on downtown electric kiosks. Bevelyn Ukah was chosen to do a special commission piece, entitled “Our Collective Table.” A large reproduction of the mixed-media piece hangs at city hall. The original is now part of the City’s permanent art collection.

Greensboro, and inspired a crosswalk mural which, according to Hunt, features colors representing the eight Native tribes of North Carolina and symbols of cultural importance,

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AT THE GREENSBORO CULTURAL CENTER PARTNERS

REVITALIZING FACILITIES

Art Alliance has been a tenant of the Greensboro Cultural Center since 1998. We continue to be thankful and appreciative of the Cultural Center staff. Their efficiency and ease to work with makes it a pleasure to work and collaborate with them on our classes and community events.

The Greensboro Cultural Center received a much-needed boost with $3.5 million in renovations funded by the American Rescue Fund . This substantial financial injection was earmarked for essential building repairs, ensuring the center’s structural integrity and longevity. These renovations not only enhance the facility’s aesthetic appeal but also secure its role as a vital cultural hub for the community. This investment reflects a commitment to preserving and promoting the arts, fostering creativity, and bolstering the local economy through cultural enrichment, ultimately ensuring that the Greensboro Cultural Center remains a thriving and sustainable space for years to come.

— Liz Busch

Art Alliance of Greensboro

CULTURAL CENTER NONPROFIT PARTNERS

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PARTNERS

PARTICIPANTS/ EVENT ATTENDEES 504.6K

$1M

IN-KIND RENT VALUE

Greensboro Ballet dancers perform during First Friday event.

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Having a GROW art residency at Creative Greensboro was such a wonderful experience! I met so many local artists at the workshops that I sponsored. I was able to interact intimately with the Greensboro community and those interactions and responses to my paintings has helped me spread my wings as a multidisciplinary artist.

— Kym Cooper

GROW Artist in Residence

INSPIRING RESIDENCIES

Todgi Dozier repurposing found materials to create new art. Residency at the Hyers provides rent-free access to the 88-seat black box theater in the Cultural Center for organizations to create and premier dramatic, musical or dance productions. This year’s 11 residencies included a concert and workshops discussing the history, culture, and musicianship of Ethiopian music and Ethio-jazz by Jonovan Cooper and JOYEMOVEMENT developing “Rewind 1968” a new dance-centered opera that examined the consequences of the North Carolina Eugenics program.

Creative Greensboro’s residency programs – the Greensboro Residency for Original Works (GROW) and Residency at the Hyers – brought new, exciting programs and productions to the Cultural Center. Creative Greensboro received a $58K North Carolina Arts Council grant to support this effort. GROW is a paid residency that provides an open flex space for Guilford County-based creative individuals and organizations to produce new and original works that encourage visitation and engagement by the public. This year’s residencies included Princess Johnson developing an original ballet, titled “The Hair Journey,” about Black women’s relationship with their hair, and

As a first-time writer and director, having an opportunity to share my work onstage felt momentous. The Residency at the Hyers gave my team and I the opportunity and space to rehearse, produce and perform ‘ANCESTRAL,’ a musical about three friends who are guided by ancestral figures during their dreams. The technical support I received during the residency was instrumental in making the show successful.

— Anna Luisa Daigneault, known professionally as Quilla Artist in Residence

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The space we use for our dance classes and dance team practices are affordable and amazing. We’ve gotten more people to come and enjoy our K-Pop dance classes and enjoy community. Thank you to Creative Greensboro for allowing Amani and I to teach Korean Pop dances to everyone in the area. We really do appreciate you guys!

— Tionna Dennis K-Pop Dance

The Creative Activation Partner program continues to provide low-cost space for individuals and organizations to host creative, cultural, or education programs. EXCITING PROGRAMMING

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CREATIVE GREENSBORO PRESENTS

Creative Greensboro is the place to create and experience live theater and music – from partnership productions with area theater companies to long beloved programs like Music for a Sunday Evening in the Park (MUSEP). With music studios for lessons, a playwrights’ forum, and more, there are so many opportunities to learn and grow as a musician, actor, director, or playwright. Creative Greensboro’s programs provided more than 300,000 opportunities for individuals to experience performing arts . This year, Creative Greensboro also offered a special concert with Grammy Award winner and two-time YOUR HOME FOR LIVE PERFORMANCES

Tony Award nominee Eva Noblezada at the Van Dyke Performance Space. Nobelzada, star of the Broadway production of “Hadestown,” offered a concert of songs she calls her “Rainy Day Playlist.” The event was sold out for the performance and a post-show reception with the artist.

Eva Noblezada.

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MUSEP is one of Greensboro’s most cherished summer events. It’s unique in that it showcases local artists and gives the communities of Greensboro a chance to come together, relax, and appreciate the talent. It gives our band an opportunity to meet new people, interact with the community and share experiences. We love what we do and MUSEP gives us an opportunity to do just that.

— Jackie Thomas Knights of Soul

The community ensembles of Creative Greensboro are the living embodiment of community building and participation. These ensembles are made up of the community and perform for their community, giving players an opportunity to share their talents with their neighbors.

— Kiyoshi Carter

Greensboro Concert Band

The Choral Society of Greensboro is one of the best things my wife, Betty, and I have found since relocating to Greensboro in April 2022. We’ve been able to sing in a chorale again, something we deeply missed during the pandemic years. We’ve made new friends that share our love for choral singing, which is priceless for new arrivals like us. We’ve also found voice lessons with a teacher we love, and taken up flamenco dance as well, all thanks to Creative Greensboro and the Greensboro Cultural Center.

— George Reynolds

Choral Society member

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Top Row (left to right): “Defying Gravity” by Andrew Bowen; “We are All Connected” by Natalie Robinson; “Dream Tree” by Shaleen Miller; “Look, Skywalkers” by Alexis Lavine; Bottom row (left to right): “Lazy Beagle” by Katie Hallahan; “Entwined (Red-winged Blackbird)” by Jessica Dame; “Lightheaded and Free” by Steven Cozart; “I Am Not Ready for This” by Greg Hausler; “Eastside, Westside” by Bevelyn Ukah; “Lifted” by Deb Frederick.

www.CreativeGreensboro.com 336-373-2026 Greensboro Cultural Center, Suite 101 200 N. Davie St. @CreativeGreensboro