By By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles & Features Editor
Once the holiday break is over, Joey Toler and the rest of the staff of the Beaufort County Arts Council plan to hit the ground running.
“We’ll have our first exhibition of the new year, Carolina Connections, opening Jan. 7,” said Toler, BCAC’s executive director. “It features the work of four eastern North Carolina women, and that’s their connection.”
On display will be a variety of art mediums — watercolors, collages, graphic arts, pottery and book arts — by Betty Bonner Bradshaw, Diane Lee, Janet Dixon and Johnnie Lee Scott. The show is slated to run through March 11.
“We have a very interesting schedule of exhibitions for 2010,” Toler said. “We’re in the planning stages for a mini-exhibit for a one week show in March, which is also going to be a fundraiser.”
The premise for that event is a unique one for Beaufort County, Toler said. From 150 to 200 artists, including those who usually take part in the BCAC Fine Arts Show, will be asked to create works of art, one per artist.
“We’re going to give out very small canvases and ask them to do something. We’ll display them for a week, and the exhibit will culminate with a reception,” Toler said. “And everyone at the reception will leave with an original work of art.”
Tickets will be sold for the reception and patrons will be served wine and appetizers. As part of the ticket price, a drawing will be held for the works of art.
“Not only do you get delicious food and good conversation, but you get to add to your personal art collection,” Toler noted.
“I can’t wait to see this exhibit up on the wall,” he said.
The event is part of the BCAC’s attempts to pursue creative fundraising opportunities.
“The Arts Council is looking at ways to begin to wean ourselves away from city and county funding,” Toler said. “I don’t believe we should be cut off completely, because we do provide a service for the city and the county. We want to do more income-generating events, but still reach out into the community. We want to provide arts experiences for everybody, not just the elite few that can pay for them.”
Also scheduled for early 2010 is the BCAC membership drive, planned for February. And on March 7 a HeART of the City concert will feature the Eastern Youth Orchestra.
The annual Student Art Show, showcasing work submitted by students in schools throughout Beaufort County, is set for March 28 through April 30.
Also slated for April is the second-annual Beaufort County Music Festival, which is broadening its fan base this year. This year traditional music will still be highlighted, but other genres will be represented, as well.
“It’s still going to be acoustic driven,” Toler said of the festival, scheduled for April 9-11. “We’re expanding to three days, with an opening Friday-night ticketed concert at the Turnage Theater.”
April 10’s activities will include all-day concerts, workshops and other free events, as well as another ticketed concert at the Turnage. April 11’s main event is a free gospel sing at the outdoor pavilion.
For more information about these and other BCAC events, see future editions of the Washington Daily News.