New Bern's Cultural Center...a sampling of downtown happenings!

Bank of the Arts Gallery

Bank of the Arts Gallery

 ART

Bank of the Arts Gallery

On May 8, the Bank of the Arts opened with a gallery filled with a wonderful array of art…paintings, pastels, drawings, pottery, photography, fiber, fine arts, weaving, basketry, graphics, wood, glass and mixed media. More than 120 artists throughout the region submitted media to the Bank of the Arts' 11^th Annual Juried Art Show competing for $5,000 in awards. The Show is sponsored by the Craven Arts Council & Gallery and the Twin Rivers Art Association. For more information read Luminary May 2012.

If you missed this one day only market, don’t despair. The exhibit opens during ARTWALK, with an Artist’s Reception on Friday May 11 from 5 to 8 p.m. and runs through June 28.

ARTWALK,  held the 2^nd Friday of every other month, offers 13 art venues…a mix of galleries, restaurants and shops.  

THEATRE

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, a Tony nominated musical comedy centers on two con men in the French Riviera featuring the memorable songs Give Them What They Want and Love In My Legs. New Bern Civic Theatre in collaboration with the Rivertowne Ballroom, offers performances May 11, 12, 18, 19 at 8 p.m. and May 13 at 2 p.m. Tickets $17 in advance, $19 at the door. For more information go to newberncivictheatre.org.

The River Towne Players bring Noel Cowards, Blithe Spirit to the stage in the Masonic Theatre May 18, 19, 25, 26 at 8 pm., May 20 and 27 at 3 p.m. Written as an escape for the people in Great Britain during the war, this comedy conjures up laughs at the expense of novelist Charles Condomine. Tickets $12 in advance $15 at the door. For more information call 638-2577.

MUSIC

JOEL MABUS - a maverick in the folk art world, has been a mainstay on the folk circuit for the past 30 years with 20 albums to his credit. He will perform at the Trent River Coffee Company on May 18, 8 p.m., $15 general, $12 members, $8 students. For more information call 633-6444.

Twenty Songs For 25 Years – Voci Allegre, New Bern’s longest-running and continuously performing vocal ensemble, is celebrating its 25^th year with an anniversary concert at the Bank of the Arts, Friday, May 25 at 6 pm. The concert features favorites spanning a broad range of musical genres and periods from Renaissance madrigals to art songs, to folk and patriotic tunes to Broadway and movie themes. The concert is free…contributions are accepted and may be made to the CAC&G (Craven Arts Council & Gallery).

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director 

ARTWALK - Friday April 20, 5-8 PM...another great evening in downtown New Bern

Art lovers can look forward to another evening devoted to the arts on Aril 20 featuring 11venues. The public will have the opportunity to meet the artists at the following exhibits and receptions. 



Drinking in Daisies
by Jonathan Grauel



New Bern Artworks & Company presents, Woven Narratives, collective works by Jonathan Grauel and Fabric Lenny will be held April 20 and the two artists will lead an interactive hands on workshop at 10 a.m. – noon  on the 21st. They have exhibited selections of their work in venues in Europe, receiving national press and TV coverage. For more information go to www.newbernartworks.com.

At Bank of the Arts for the first time, the Craven Community Associates in Fine Arts Department will hold their annual student art show representing student works from an eclectic mix  20+ students who grew up in China, Japan, Europe and  Eastern North Carolina. Artist’s reception is 5– 8p.m. For more information go to www.cravenarts.org.



Blue Orb Stoneware by  Michaele Rose Watson



 

Michaele Rose Watson’s Studio, tucked away at 413B Broad Street will have numerous artists, performers, musicians, painters and sculptures in attendance, where art will be created and performed from 5–9 p.m.

 

Downtown Closing Time on Middle Street
Dan Nelson


Carolina Creations will feature Painting the Town-New Bern, oil paintings by Raleigh artist Dan Nelson. 



 

Lisa Bisbee's Art



Next Chapter Bookstore features artwork by local artist Lisa Bisbee and book signing with local author WR Chagnon.

Other art venues:

New Bern Sculpture Park, MJs Raw Bar & Grill, the Accidental Artist, Bead-N-Bowls and the New Bern Farmer’s Market.

Susan Moffat Thomas 

Executive Director

Really Great News

We just received confirmation from the NC Department of Commerce, the two downtown New Bern projects submitted January 6 through the City for a $100,000 Main Street Solutions grant are being funded. Swiss Bear and the City Planning staff worked with Haroldson Properties and the Craven Arts Council submitting a grant request for expansion of the retail space in the Bank of the Arts to increase revenues and promote the work of local artists and renovation of the old Pak A Sak supermarket for use as a wholesale furniture outlet. The Main Street Solutions Fund (MSSF), a reimbursable matching grant program awards grants to eligible local governments for projects that strengthen the local economy by leveraging funds for small business development. The match for eligible projects, two non-state dollars for every dollar and requires the creation of one job for every $25,000. The City will monitor and administer the grant for the two recipients of the MSSF money.

We are thrilled the two projects met the qualifications and both will be great additions to the downtown business mix. 

Susan Moffat Thomas
Executive Director