[Fayetteville, North Carolina] – The Arts Council of Fayetteville|Cumberland County (Arts Council) has received a Technical Assistance Grant from the North Carolina Arts Council (NCAC) for $2,500 to implement accessibility best practices for its programs and grantmaking initiatives in 2022-2023. In addition, Kennon Jackson, Jr., Executive Vice President of the Arts Council, has been selected for a statewide Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) learning cohort.
As an integral part of the Kennedy Center’s Access/VSA International Network, the LEAD program advances the full inclusion of people with disabilities in arts and culture. With a focus on expanding the breadth and scope of accessible programming, LEAD provides an opportunity for professionals in the field to develop best practices and resources; engage in
conversations with colleagues and experts from around the world; and learn practical methods for designing inclusive arts experiences and environments. Funds from the NCAC Technical Assistance Grant will be used by the Arts Council to expand accessibility of the Arts Council programs and services in the coming year.
As part of the Technical Assistance Grant, Jackson was selected as one of twenty-nine arts leaders from across North Carolina to participate in a LEAD learning cohort. Arts leaders participating in the program will receive professional development addressing accessibility and the arts. As a kickoff to the training, Jackson attended the Kennedy Center’s LEAD National Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina which was held from August 3 to August 5, 2022.
Jackson says, “Creating an accessible environment for all at the Arts Council nurtures acceptance, creativity, and innovation. The Arts Council is proud to participate as part of a larger movement fostering diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. We are grateful to the N.C. Arts Council for this incredible learning opportunity.”
The Kennedy Center’s LEAD Conference was produced in Raleigh, North Carolina from August 1 through August 5, 2022. The statewide accessibility learning cohort will continue to train together throughout the year.
Questions about the LEAD Conference or Arts Council accessibility, contact:
Kennon Jackson, Jr., Executive Vice President
910-323-1776 ext. 1002
About the Arts Council of Fayetteville | Cumberland County
The Arts Council of Fayetteville|Cumberland County is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization based in Fayetteville, NC that supports individual creativity, cultural preservation, economic development, and lifelong learning through the ARTS. As a primary steward of public and private funding for arts, cultural, and historical activities in the Cape Fear Region, all
affiliated programs of the Arts Council exemplify our 5 core values: Excellence, Accountability, Transparency, Collaborations, and Innovation. theartscouncil.com
In the year 2021-22, the Arts Council distributed almost $1 million in grant funds and allocations to Cumberland County arts and culture non-profit organizations, artists, and municipalities.
Grants, programs, and services of the Arts Council are funded in part by contributions from community partners, and through grants from the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, and the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. ncarts.org