Arts North Carolina

08/18/2026

Get the perspective of The Haw River Ballroom's Heather LaGarde and The Real Tickets Real Fans Act! ⤵️

If this is your first time hearing about this legislation, the Real Tickets, Real Fans Act (S849) would:
🎟️ Require ticket resellers to be transparent, clearly identifying themselves as resellers.

🎟️ Ban deceptive language, images, and URLs that resellers use when pretending to be primary sellers or to be endorsed by the primary seller.

🎟️ Require resellers to provide weblinks to the primary seller so consumers have a choice.

🎟️ Ban all speculative ticket sales, stopping the sale of tickets a seller does not possess.

🎟️ Ban the use of “bots” to circumvent sales restrictions.

Keep reading and head to artsnc.org to learn more!

https://indyweek.com/news/culture/music/real-tickets-real-fans-legislation-north-carolina/

Passed in early July, the The Real Tickets, Real Fans Act aims to regulate predatory ticketing practices across North Carolina.

08/10/2026

“For too long, North Carolina fans have been at the mercy of predatory resellers, hidden fees, and bots that sn**ch up tickets before real supporters ever get a chance...” - Senator Jay Chaudhuri

To stop this in North Carolina the Real Tickets, Real Fans Act (S849) would:

🎟️ Require ticket resellers to be transparent, clearly identifying themselves as resellers.

🎟️ Ban deceptive language, images, and URLs that resellers use when pretending to be primary sellers or to be endorsed by the primary seller.

🎟️ Require resellers to provide weblinks to the primary seller so consumers have a choice.

🎟️ Ban all speculative ticket sales, stopping the sale of tickets a seller does not possess.

🎟️ Ban the use of “bots” to circumvent sales restrictions.

Now is the time to urge your NC Senator to support the Real Tickets, Real Fans Act (S849) and stop dishonest resellers from cheating fans, hurting artists, and damaging small businesses and nonprofits across the state. Head to artsnc.org/advocacy/action-center/ to contact your Senator!

Read more at: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article316698417.html

Lawmakers proposed a bill that would crack down on bots in event ticket sales in April. It never passed, but its content ended up in the state budget.

08/05/2026

Whether you're an artist, performer, arts educator, volunteer, or someone who simply believes creativity enriches our communities, there's a place for you here at Arts North Carolina!

Creativity needs champions and as an individual member of Arts North Carolina, you become part of a statewide community of arts advocates who believe the arts deserve a strong voice.

Your membership helps support year-round advocacy, strengthens statewide and national partnerships, and ensures the arts continue to have a seat at the table where important decisions are made.

We hope you'll join Arts North Carolina today and help us build an even stronger creative future for our state! Get started. 👉 artsnc.org/support/individuals-join/

07/24/2026

Every day, arts organizations across North Carolina inspire creativity, strengthen communities, and create opportunities for people of all ages to experience the arts. At Arts North Carolina, we're committed to supporting that work through year-round advocacy, statewide connection, and resources that help the arts community thrive.

When you or your organization becomes a member of Arts North Carolina, you're joining a network of arts leaders, educators, nonprofit organizations, creative businesses, and advocates working together to strengthen the arts across our state.

Your membership helps amplify the collective voice of the arts while supporting efforts that protect funding, inform policy, share resources, and build meaningful connections across North Carolina.

Whether you're an independent artist, a local arts council, community arts organization, museum, theater, gallery, orchestra, dance company, creative business owner, or nonprofit serving your community through the arts, your perspective matters, and your voice makes our collective advocacy stronger.

Together, we can continue building a North Carolina where the arts are recognized as an essential part of vibrant communities, a strong economy, and a thriving future.

Become a member today and join us in shaping what's next for the arts in North Carolina!
START HERE 👉 artsnc.org/support/individuals-join/

07/22/2026

Arts North Carolina is pleased to welcome our newest board members! Please join us in a digital round of applause for these wonderful arts leaders from across our state. 👏

✨ Liz Fitzgerald, Executive Director at Cabarrus Arts Council, Concord, NC
✨ Cathy Hardison, Executive Director at Wilson Arts, Wilson, NC
✨ Shannon Henry, President and CEO at Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, Winston-Salem, NC
✨ Jamie Karolich, Craft Your Commerce Program Director at Mountain BizWorks

07/17/2026

Every day, thousands of North Carolinians hit the road. What if every drive became an opportunity to champion the arts?

The Creative State license plate is more than a new look for your vehicle. It's a visible statement that creativity matters and a way to support statewide arts advocacy through Arts North Carolina.

For just $30 each year:
🎨 $20 supports Arts North Carolina's mission and arts advocacy efforts.
🌻 $10 benefits North Carolina's Wildflower and Visitor Center Programs.

Whether you're an artist, arts educator, performer, volunteer, patron, or simply someone who believes creativity strengthens our communities, this is an easy way to show your support wherever the road takes you.

Ready to drive the arts forward? Visit thecreativestate.org and order your Creative State license plate.

Thank you for your support of the arts in North Carolina!

07/09/2026

Big ideas are cooking at Arts North Carolina! This week was filled with meaningful conversations and a room full of arts leaders who care deeply about the future of the arts in North Carolina.

Our Board of Directors gathered in Raleigh, NC, to reflect, collaborate, and begin shaping what’s next for Arts North Carolina. We couldn’t be more excited about the conversations happening behind the scenes and where they’re leading! 🎶🎹🎭🎨🖌️🖼️🧑‍🩰🎺🪕

A massive thank you to each of our board members for your support and participation, and to Armstrong McGuire for helping lead those conversations.

07/04/2026

Today, we celebrate more than 250 years of creativity in our nation. 🇺🇸

Here’s to the visionaries who thought beyond the frame, the storytellers who gave voice to our shared experiences, the musicians who shaped the soundtrack of generations, the dancers who moved history forward, the makers who honored tradition, and the innovators who reimagined what art could be.

From quilts to canvases, stages to streets, symphonies to spoken word, creativity has always been part of our American story.

This Independence Day, we celebrate the artists, advocates, and communities who continue to shape our cultural landscape, one bold idea at a time!

Happy Fourth of July from the entire team at Arts North Carolina. 💙

07/01/2026

NC House of Representatives and NC Senate leaders have agreed upon and released a FY2026-27 state budget bill (SB257) and conference report. Arts NC is grateful that the budget bill includes The Real Tickets, Real Fans Act language in its entirety.

In our latest blog, we break down what the proposed state budget could mean for arts funding, arts education, and creative communities across North Carolina, along with policy updates like the Real Tickets, Real Fans Act, legislation aimed at creating a fairer ticket-buying experience for fans and protecting access to live events.

Head to the link in our bio or artsnc.org to read more!

06/24/2026

250 years of creativity in North Carolina continues! NC has a robust and rich traditional arts history. The North Carolina Arts Council has compiled a list of genres and locations so that you can create your own arts in NC adventure!

Check out the link below, jump in the car, and hit the road! 🚙💨

Experience North Carolina Traditions National Folk Festival North Carolina is home to some of the nation’s richest traditional arts. Explore African American musical culture, Appalachian music and crafts, Cherokee arts and culture, Piedmont pottery, maritime traditions and more!Celebrate North Car...