First AccelARTS Cohort Kicks Off
May 11 marked the first meeting of our first AccelARTS statewide Cohort. AccelARTS is our newest program, aimed at providing much needed capacity building support for small arts organizations across North Carolina, focused on organizations that present the work of or are led by BIPOC artists.
Triangle ArtWorks was able to create AccelARTS and run this first cohort, thanks to a Spark the Arts grant from the North Carolina Arts Council. AccelARTS was developed by AccelARTS Program Manager, La-Tasha Best-Gaddy of Durham’s Infinity Bridges, who is running this first cohort with co-facilitator, Calvin Patterson of Earnest Harvest. A feature of AccelARTS is a program curriculum tailored to the specific needs of the organizations selected for the cohort and that work is happening now. Cohort sessions will run from June 5 to July 10, and include virtual sessions, an all-day in person intensive, and one on one mentoring. Find out more about AccelARTS.org/accelarts.
We are excited to announce the members of this inaugural AccelARTS cohort!
Insomniacs Inc - Troutman
Founded in 2022, the mission of Insomniacs Inc is to promote the intellectual, emotional, and character developed obtained through exploring the arts while providing temporary and long-term support to minority artists, freelancers, and creatives in Iredell County who find themselves without the accommodations and utilities needed to establish themselves as brands that contribute to the economy.
Attendee: Tevin Carr
Nation of Diversity Corp - Raleigh
Reducing homelessness and raising awareness about mental health through creative arts.
Attendee: Mariama Bah
Red Springs Cultural Center - Red Springs
This group has purchased and is upfitting a building in downtown Red Springs to create a community arts space for gallery exhibits, classes and other arts events. Their hope is to revitalize the economy of Red Springs while bringing access to art to the population, which is currently underserved.
Attendee: Irina and Jeffery Geller
Vault Theatre Limited - Durham
Vault Theatre is dedicated to unlocking the imagination through comprehensive and innovative theatre programming onstage, in the classroom, and within the community. Vault Theatre is focused on investing in the artistic work and stories of our rising young voices. Vault Theatre's work celebrates stories of radical hope for the future for audiences of all ages, nurtures the artistic voices of young performers, creates dialogues for social change, and mentors early career artists for continued growth in the performing arts industry.
Attendee: Lauren Sale
VAE Raleigh - Raleigh
VAE produces, funds, and exhibits socially-engaged art through community collaboration.
Attendee: Kayla Coleman
Bulldog Ensemble Theater - Durham
Bulldog Ensemble Theater is a group of Durham artists who create exciting productions of the best new American plays that speak to our community.
Attendee: Akiva Fox
The Beautiful Project - Durham
The Beautiful Project is a community-based arts organization in Durham, North Carolina, that uses storytelling and visual arts to advance the healing and representational justice of Black girls, gender-expansive youth, and women.
Attendee: Khayla Deans
Black Butterfly Network - Lexington
Our mission is to provide support, guidance, advocacy, and philanthropy for minority artists and entrepreneurs as the foundation for the Black Butterfly Network of Lexington, NC.
Attendee: Tina Royal
Mountain Home Music - Boone
To celebrate diverse styles of Appalachian performing arts, including music, singing, storytelling, and dance.
Attendee: Courtney Wheeler
Leela Foundation - Cary
As we enter our fourth year, Leela Foundation is committed to bringing events and performances of high artistic merit to enrich the community and create a space where the artistic expressions of dance, music, visual art, and the written word are celebrated.
Attendee: Asha Balasubramanian