WS Arts Council

The entire Triad has a very rich history when it comes to the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. Established in 1949, The W-S Arts Council was the first locally established Arts Council in the nation. There are presently over 4000.

In their own words, The Arts Council "enriches the quality of life for people in Winston-Salem and neighboring communities by raising funds for the arts, advocating for the arts, sponsoring events in conjunction with other arts organizations, providing educational opportunities, strengthening cultural resources, developing social capital, and aiding economic development. Its continued effectiveness can be attributed to the thousands of dedicated volunteers and contributors who are firmly committed to the idea that Winston-Salem is "The City of the Arts."

The Winston-Salem Arts Council is involved in a major branding Campaign to promote Winston-Salem as "The City of the Arts." There is a project on the drawing board that will give the city a major opportunity to brand itself to every car that drives through Winston-Salem. This project involves replacing the bridges of Business 40 through the downtown area, which is being scheduled for sometime in the next few years. With this project an opportunity has arisen to integrate something very creative into the rebuild that can impact the economy of the city. The plan would integrate a "proclamation" into the design of the bridges that Winston-Salem is truly The City of the Arts. Since this type of decision is made on both a state and federal level, support and involvement from the local community becomes an important factor in the plan being approved.

In the Spring of this year, The Arts Council of Winston-Salem launched a $26 million Comprehensive Fundraising Campaign. $11 million of this amount will be used to completely transform the historic Sawtooth Building into a Downtown Arts Center. $5 million will create an endowment for keeping up this new arts facility as seen in the artist's rendering below.

This will be a three year project. Richard Emmett , Arts Council Chief Operating Officer has the responsibility of overseeing this project. The historic "Sawtooth" appearance of the building will not be altered, but the interior spaces will be completely renovated. The entrance the new Arts Center will be on the Spruce street side. There will be plenty of parking just across the street with a drive under portico available for dropping off children, elderly and disabled visitors.

The diligence of folks like Rhodes, Emmett and all the officers and many volunteers over the years has made the Arts Council what it is today. Rhodes makes it very clear that “the invaluable work of the many
volunteers is the key reason for the success of this Arts Council.” Rhodes’ leadership has also played a vital role in its success.

According to a study published by the Arts Council last year, over $103 million came into Forsyth County because of the Arts. There's no question that the Arts have a major impact on the local economy through tourism and corporate and residential relocation. This bridge project would be an excellent opportunity to build on the city's already strong foundation of the arts.

So how can you help? Support the arts, go to events and enjoy the richness of what is offered locally. Share your support of the arts and the city of the arts branding with other people. Keep up to date on what is happening in the Triad Arts. If you are able to volunteer, give the Arts Council a call and let them know. The success of the arts is heavily dependent on volunteer help. And if you enjoy participating in the local Arts, spread the word. Talk about it and get behind "The City of the Arts" bridge project idea. The more businesses and residents that support the idea, the better the chance of getting approval for the project, and the better our local economy will ultimately perform because of it. Together we can achieve more.