 |
|
|
 |
||||
|
The Craven Arts Council and Gallery, located in the Bank of the Arts on Middle Street, supports and features all art disciplines and sponsors the popular New Bern Sunday Jazz Showcase and many other visual and performing arts events throughout the year. In addition, the New Bern-Craven County Public Library at the corner of Johnson and Middle Streets selects an artist of the month and displays his or her work in its attractive building. The evidence that the arts are treasured in New Bern is most apparent on a walk through the city's historic downtown. Galleries are proliferating in renovated buildings, and murals on the walls of public buildings reflect the work of varied artists interpreting New Bern's history. New Bern is also home to active community theater groups, the New Bern Civic Theatre and the RiverTowne Repertory Players, which stage and sponsor a number of productions annually. The Carolinian Shakespeare Festival puts on impressive performances for three weekends in August. The Coastal Carolina Chamber Music Festival features world-class musicians for a two-week appearance in the fall, and numerous musical groups and dancers, including historical dancers, stage other performances throughout the year. Vocal musicians will not be left out. Several communities and Craven Community College have musical groups featuring excellent singers who perform concerts during the year. There is also a community band consisting of music instructors, students and the best and brightest citizens of New Bern and surrounding communities who play because they love the music. In this chapter we describe
our arts organizations. If a group doesn't have a street address or
regular office, a phone number is given, sometimes in addition to a
contact name.
|
For
the first three decades of the twentieth century, New Bern was known as
the "Athens of North Carolina" because of its many artistic and
educational endeavors. While the Great Depression put a halt to much of
the activity, a rebirth occurred in the 1970s, and today locals enjoy
performances and exhibits from an ever-increasing number of local and
touring artists.|
|
Visual ArtsCraven Arts
Council and Gallery / Bank of the Arts Besides nurturing local artists, this
organization provides exhibition space for local, regional and
national artists in the Bank of the Arts, a reclaimed 1911 bank
building that also houses the arts council's administrative offices.
The large, open main gallery, open Tuesday through Saturday 10 AM to
6 PM, is the staging area for a variety of exhibits. Popular
traveling exhibits are often featured, and overall works include a
variety of media, ranging from traditional to contemporary. The
Pottery Vault and Gift Shop, the council's gallery shop, features
the work of Carolina artists and is open year-round. Craven Arts
Council is a membership organization with various sponsorship levels
available. Members are entitled to ticket discounts and receive a
monthly newsletter, The Luminary, that announces upcoming
arts events. The Bank of the Arts facility is available for rental
for your party or meeting. Call the Craven Arts Council and Gallery
for more information. The Accidental Artist At this studio, you can showcase your
creativity by painting your own pottery, which The Accidental Artist
will then fire for you to complete your one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
Come relax in the informal atmosphere and give your artistic
impulses free reign. You can even book studio space for birthday
parties, club meetings and other special occasions. The Accidental
Artist is open daily but may be closed on Sundays in the winter;
call for hours. Art & Materials Art & Materials sells paints,
brushes, how-to books and other supplies for those who work in oils,
acrylics, pastels and watercolors as well as paper and pottery. The
business, owned by the Mathiot family, features the works of local
artists. They schedule a variety of workshops and classes for adults
and children who want to explore their artistic talents. There is a
complete pottery studio offering pottery classes. The shop also
sponsors summer camps, after-school art lessons and special classes
for home-school students. The Flying Cat Bead Shop is located inside
Art & Materials for those interested in creating their own
distinctive jewelry. Gallery Arts, a giclee printing gallery,
is found here, as is Asian Artifacts for the Art of Living,
featuring art items, paintings and cards with an Oriental flair. Coastal Photo Club The Coastal Photo
Club meets the third Saturday at 9:30 AM every month at Centenary
United Methodist Church. The club is open to people of all ages and
skill levels who are interested in photography. In-club photo
competitions, field trips, photography-related lectures and other
activities provide club members with opportunities to share
knowledge and learn new skills. Club dues are $20 a year for single
members and $30 for family. Crystal Coast Chapter, American Needlepoint Guild Shirley Kulow (252) 636-0065 The
Crystal Coast Chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild is an
educational, nonprofit organization dedicated to the art of
needlepoint. Experienced and beginning stitchers are invited to
attend the group's meetings, held at 10 AM the first Monday of each
month at the West New Bern Recreation Center on Pinetree Drive.
Programs consist of stitching projects, instruction and
demonstrations as well as fellowship.
Red Willow's Gift Shoppe and Art Gallery
Red Willow's Gallery — "The Arts" Downtown Gallery — adjoins the
gift shop with watercolors, oils and photography by local artists.
An artist works in house on certain days of the week; call to
inquire about the schedule. The gallery is open Monday through
Saturday from 9 AM to 7 PM. |
|
|
TheaterCarolinian Shakespeare Festival Carolinian Shakespeare Festival (CSF)
performances are presented the first three weekends of August at the
New Bern Civic Theatre in downtown New Bern. This professional
theater company has staged some of the Bard's most well-known works,
including Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream,
Hamlet and Macbeth. The goal of CSF is to make the
classics entertaining and accessible to everyone. Discounts are
available for students and seniors. Tickets are sold by phone and at
various locations around town, including the Bank of the Arts on
Middle Street. Auditions usually take place in March each year for
the upcoming season, with rehearsals scheduled for the month of
July. New Bern Civic Theatre A nonprofit organization, New Bern
Civic Theatre (NBCT) was organized in 1968 to provide community
theater for area adults and children. The group's theatrical
productions range from serious drama to lively musicals, including
original works. NBCT also offers a number of art education
opportunities for children, including StageHands, a performing group
of the civic theater that annually stages a special production by
children for children. Its unique performances are presented
simultaneously in sign and spoken language. The theater also hosts a
popular two-week Children's Acting Workshop in the summer. RiverTowne Repertory Players This nonprofit community theater
group, formed in 2001, is dedicated to encouraging, promoting and
practicing the theatrical arts in the community. RiverTowne's
performances take place at the Sudan Shrine Auditorium downtown.
Membership in the Players is open to anyone 16 years and older with
a desire to be involved in the organization's operation, including
acting, singing, directing, lighting, producing and more. Annual
dues are $15 per person. Tickets are available for productions at
the Bank of the Arts Tuesday through Saturday and at the door at the
time of performance. |
|
|
DanceBaroque Arts
Project The Baroque Arts Project, under the
direction of Paige Whitley-Baugess, combines music and dance in exciting
and innovative performances to bring the rich tapestry of the Baroque
period to life. The project specializes in the music and dance of the
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, offering many engaging educational
programs in addition to its public performances and tours. Season
tickets are available. Craven Historical Dancers This unique dance troupe performs, in
costume, eighteenth-century social dances, including reels, country
dances, minuets, cotillions and jigs. They entertain at holiday
performances, festivals and other events. The group meets
periodically and each fall accepts new members. Director Paige
Whitley-Bauguess also directs the New Bern Dancing Assembly, a
costumed Baroque dance performing group for boys and girls in 4th
through 12th grades. Baroque dance classes and workshops are offered
at Down East Dance. Dance Theatre Performing Arts Studios,
Inc. Open since 1990, Dance Theatre
Performing Arts Centre, under the direction of Veronica Sabiston, is
a training ground for dance students of all ages and skills, from
the absolute beginner to the very advanced. Dance Theatre’s
comprehensive program offers a diversified curriculum, including
classical ballet and pointe, lyrical, jazz, hip hop, tap and
jumpstart. This dance school also features classes for adults and
offers multiple classrooms for personalized attention. The
award-winning Dance Theatre offers opportunities for students to
participate in regional and national competitions and, on the local
level, to take part in mall shows, festivals, parades, telethons and
more. The studio conducts a local school performance tour and hosts
many performances throughout the year, including its annual Spring
Performance in May. Excerpts are aired on local television Channel
10 each summer. Dance Theatre prepares students for auditions each
year for the North Carolina School of the Arts (NCSA), American
Ballet Theatre (ABT) and Joffrey Ballet. It's also proud to have
directed many of its students toward roles in national television,
major motion pictures and music videos as well as dance-related
presentations for Walt Disney World, Kings Dominion and Busch
Gardens. Down East Dance Down East Dance prides itself in
educating students of all ages in the art of dance. Classes in
ballet, pointe, jazz, hip hop, tap and Baroque are designed to
create positive, joyful learning experiences that encompass
coordination-building skills, flexibility, strength, technique,
correct alignment and creativity. Every other year, the Down East
Dance ballet faculty and students stage an impressive performance of
The Nutcracker with guest artists. Down East Dance also
showcases two youth performance groups. Rivertowne Ballroom Want to learn how to swing, cha cha
or tango? Maybe the fox trot and the waltz are more your speed. If
you've ever had an interest in learning ballroom dancing, this is
the place to go. Private and group lessons are offered, and dance
students get an opportunity to practice their skills at weekly
parties. Wanda Kay's School of Dance Wanda Kay offers tap, jazz and ballet
for ages 3 through adult in her specially designed studio. The Wanda
Kay Dancers, a group of advanced dance students, perform at fairs
and festivals throughout the area, including MUMfest. Wanda
Kay's Troupe opens the New Bern Christmas Parade every year. |
|
|
MusicCoastal Carolina Chamber Music
Festival The Coastal Carolina Chamber
Music Festival, now in its seventh season, features two fall weekends of
beautiful classical music performed by world-class musicians at a
variety of locations throughout downtown New Bern. Each year's roster
includes talented professionals who perform internationally as soloists
and members of the country's finest ensembles, such as the Boston
Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops and the Metropolitan Opera
Orchestra. Festival events include not only musical performances but
also interactive and entertaining social events that combine to create
an up-close and personal concert experience. Season, individual and
mix-and-match ticket options are available.
Fairfield Harbour Chorus
This chorus began with 24 enthusiastic
members in 1984. Today, membership totals approximately 65 vocalists.
The group performs about 15 concerts each year, featuring all types of
music, including show tunes, gospel, Broadway hits, holiday
arrangements, pop and contemporary. It has given numerous performances
in area churches, rest homes and retirement homes and has combined
talents with other choruses at Cherry Point and Craven Community
College. Members must be residents of Fairfield Harbour. Rehearsals are
conducted on Monday evenings at 7 PM at the Fairfield Community Center.
Rehearsals begin the first Monday after Labor Day and continue until
mid-May. Craven Community Chorus This large choral group, formed in 1985,
performs locally as well as in surrounding counties and out of state.
There are no auditions, and membership is open to anyone from 18 to 80
who can carry a tune and enjoys singing. The 60-member group likes to
include instrumentalists whenever possible and usually plans its shows
around a theme. Past performances have featured Dixieland standards, Old
West favorites, Big Band hits and classic 1950s rock 'n' roll in the
annual spring and Christmas productions. Weekly practices take place
from 6:30 to 8:30 PM Tuesdays at Craven Community College's Orringer
Auditorium. Craven Concerts Inc. This organization, in its 26th
consecutive season, schedules five concerts each year, staged at Grover
C. Fields Performing Arts Center on Dr. M. L. King Jr. Boulevard. Season
tickets cost $75 for non-reserved seating and $90 for reserved seating.
Productions feature a variety of performances as well as the staging of
an annual live opera performance. Season ticket holders are entitled to
admission to reciprocal concerts in nearby communities.
Membership applications and additional information are available by
calling the number above or writing to P.O. Box 12213, New Bern, NC
28561-2213. Fuller's Music Fuller's Music carries a complete
inventory of instruments, sheet music and other items for both beginning
and experienced musicians. Talented instructors teach lessons on a
variety of instruments, including guitar, piano, drums, flute, clarinet,
saxophone, trumpet, trombone, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, violin and
dulcimer. |
|
|||
|
North Carolina Symphony
|
 |
||||
|
The North Carolina Symphony comes to New
Bern with an outstanding series of concerts featuring classical and
popular favorites. Several seating options and price ranges are
available. Four performances take place at the New Bern Riverfront
Convention Center, including a Holiday Pops concert in December, with a
free concert scheduled during early summer at Tryon Palace Historic
Sites & Gardens. Season tickets are available by calling the symphony
office at (877) 627-6724. Individual tickets may be purchased at New
Bern/Craven County Convention and Visitors Center, (252) 637-1551.
 |
|||||
|
|
Commercial GalleriesART Gallery Ltd. On the second floor of the Edward
Stanly House, this gallery offers fine works in contemporary North
Carolina arts, including paintings, art glass, sculpture, jewelry,
porcelain and tapestry. It is open daily by appointment. Carolina Creations An artist-owned studio and gallery
open since 1990, Carolina Creations offers handcrafted American and
North Carolinian fine art and contemporary craft by more than 250
professional artists. The gallery represents potters, glass blowers,
woodworkers and jewelers, as well as original art and prints by
owner Janet Franceour and pottery by her husband, Michael. You'll
also find the painted furniture line Sticks as well as sculpture and
prints by StoryPeople. Carolina Creations is open daily, and there
is always something new to discover. Framing Fox Art Gallery The Framing Fox Art & Custom Picture
Framing Gallery has been serving the public for more than 30 years
with creative custom picture framing and a large selection of
collectible fine art. Framing Fox specializes in collectible signed
and numbered limited-edition prints, canvas and giclees by the
leading artists in the United States, and they are authorized
representatives for these artists. Custom framing, fine art, free
location of hard-to-find prints and shipping anywhere are all part
of Framing Fox's excellent service. New Bern Artworks Want a little adventure in your
life? Enter New Bern ArtWorks, located in historic New Bern and
accessible through the Bank of the Arts or the parking lot behind
the Chelsea Restaurant on Middle Street. The studio is actually
behind Port City Java. Here, 30 local artists create beauty using
one uniting factor — a box. Each artist begins with this
three-dimensional form and using various sizes, designs or
creates his/her vision of what goes in the box. Owner Martha
Williams says "thinking outside the box" has become a working
motto. Some artists paint inside the box; others have done boxes
within boxes. Some boxes may contain linings to provide a backdrop
for other art forms — a marble sculpture or a painted canvas. All of
the boxes are original art. The boxes can be hung on the wall or
stacked on a desk or table. There are no rules, just ideas. Although
the box is the signature of the shop, you will find other artworks
such as jewelry, pottery and sculpture. The New Bern ArtWorks is
open Tuesday through Friday from 10 AM until 6 PM and Saturday from
10 AM until 4 PM. It's closed on Sundays and Mondays. Weavers Webb Gallery Featuring a wide selection of hand-woven
items, such as baby blankets and table linens, this gallery offers an
expanded selection of knitting and needlepoint supplies, as well as crochet
and cross-stitch items. Classes are available in needlepoint, weaving,
crochet and knitting.
|
|
|
|