The Art of What We Do (Part 1 of 5)

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at the Arts Council?

Over the next five weeks, we’re pulling back the curtain to share how we serve Fayetteville and Cumberland County through creative programs, community connections, and vibrant visual arts experiences. Whether you're strolling through our downtown gallery, visiting from out of town, or just getting to know the cultural side of Fayetteville, this is your guide to what we really do — and how it all comes together.

This week, we spoke with Sarah Busman, our Director of Community Engagement, about our galleries.

How do you reach members of the community?

Our curators and artists are some of our best advocates in the community, and we regularly have artists who bring their families in to see their work. Additionally, visitors can engage with our Southeastern Artist in Residence (SEAR) during their open studio hours.

Who are some community members that you serve?

We have three different types of gallery shows that serve different parts of the community. Our community shows, PWC Public Works and the Cumberland County High School Juried Show, encourage artists of many ages and ability levels to engage with our professional gallery space. Showcases, like our SEAR shows and our upcoming show featuring the Tarheel Quilters' Guild, shine a light on unique artists in our community. National shows, like Multi-Faceted and Kindred Visions, invite artists from across the country to bring their work to Fayetteville.

SEAR artist Katie Crawford at the opening of her exhibit, "The Whimsical Naturalist"

Artist featured in the Public Works Exhibit sponsored by Fayetteville PWC

Artist drops off his work to be featured in the Public Works Exhibit sponsored by Fayetteville PWC

Artists discuss their work at the Public Works Exhibit Opening Reception

Student work featured in the CCS High School Juried Art Show

Student work featured in the CCS High School Juried Art Show

A young artist poses in front of her work at the Public Works Exhibit Opening Reception

Student work featured in the CCS High School Juried Art Show

Artist drops off her work to be featured in the Public Works Exhibit sponsored by Fayetteville PWC

Visitor observes work by Katie Crawford featured in "The Whimsical Naturalist"

What opportunities do you offer artists?

Our pipeline of artistic opportunities also engages artists at all stages in their careers. The Local Artist Spotlight Gallery provides emerging visual artists from Cumberland and our surrounding counties a smaller space to exhibit work in a curated vision. SEAR features a single mid-career artist working on a culminating body of work throughout a six-month period. Our National shows invite professional artists and curators into a competitive process of selection. Along with visual artists, we also hire local performing and literary artists in our Opening Receptions and various touchpoints throughout the exhibit season.

How do you receive funding?

We receive funding for our facilities from the North Carolina Arts Council, the City of Fayetteville, and Cumberland County funds. We also received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for the SEAR that was unfortunately rescinded in May with the large-scale changes to the agency and its subgranting. 

How do you impact the local economy and tourism?

Last year, we had over 13,000 visitors to our gallery. Many of these visitors are looking for free cultural engagement while exploring downtown and visiting our local shops and restaurants. We are happy to provide our gallery patrons free entry so they are able to engage in our local economy in other places. We also see many out-of-town guests who visit the gallery to explore the cultural community while spending time with their families. 

Is there anything else people should know about the Arts Center that they might not be aware of?

Our gallery serves as a hub of our downtown community. It is often the place people go when they need directions, suggestions, or advice about the area. We serve as an ambassador for not just the cultural community, but for the entire region.

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Want to help support the arts?

Give today and help us continue making an impact on arts and culture here in Fayetteville | Cumberland County.

For regular updates on the Arts Council, follow this organization on Facebook (@ArtsCouncilFay) or Instagram (@artscouncilfay).