First Meeting of Arts Council Engagement Society (ACES) is Wednesday November 12

Winston-Salem, NC  (November 3, 2014) — The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County is creating an avenue for local  residents to have personal interaction with arts organizations, avail themselves of volunteer opportunities and be advocates for arts and cultural organizations whose interests align with theirs.

The organizational meeting for the Arts Council Engagement Society (ACES) will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, November 12, in Reynolds Place at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem.  Membership in ACES is free.

“People in our community often ask how they can become more involved with local arts and cultural groups,” said Susan Morris, Director of Community Resource Development for The Arts Council. “As a response to this desire for greater involvement, we are launching the Arts Council Engagement Society (ACES) that will offer opportunities for members to learn more about The Arts Council and its member organizations and opportunities for beneficial and fulfilling engagement. As a result of this first gathering on November 12, we hope to have the framework for the ACES program.” said Morris.

Additional details about ACES are available online at http://intothearts.org/get-involved/arts-council-engagement-society/  Persons who possess some or all of the following interests are encouraged to attend the organizational meeting:

  • Passionate about the arts and culture and desire greater involvement
  • Supportive of The Arts Council and its member groups
  • Engaged, or desire to be engaged, in the community as a volunteer
  • Able to commit time to attend events and meetings
  • Possess a unique skill set that would benefit the Arts Council and member groups
  • Possess communication and listening skills
  • Have experience or interest in community promotions
  • Enjoy sharing ideas with others

RSVP to the November meeting to Susan Morris  (smorris@intothearts.org).

Winston-Salem’s robust arts community accounts in large part for the recognition it continues to receive as a great place to live, work and play.  The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, the first locally established arts council in the United States, enriches the lives of area residents every day. It raises funds and advocates for the arts, sponsors events in conjunction with other arts organizations, promotes and funds arts education, creates cultural opportunities, develops social capital and aids economic development. This year, The Arts Council made a total of 76 grants totaling $1,845,000 for 2015 (Organizational Support Grants, $1,615,000; Wells Fargo Arts-In-Education Grants, $100,000; Duke Energy Regional Artist Grants, $30,000; Innovative Project Grants, $100,000).