We have programs covering every aspect of the arts, visual, performing, literary, arts education, and multicultural arts.
Our Charlie Brown Christmas Play & Party in Brunswick County has come to an end. Looking at all the smiling faces, you could see the enjoyment in everyone’s eyes – young and old alike. If you didn’t make it this year, make plans to celebrate with us next year!
This was a free party (held at 3 locations in the county) with a special live performance by BAC Community Players, Santa, and more came together full of music & fun!
For kids of all ages, including entertainment, snacks, drinks, an Ugly sweater contest, and more surprises!
This event was hosted by the Brunswick Arts Council. In the spirit of giving, we collected donations — cash, cans and boxed food items — to help us spread holiday cheer. Thank you goes out to all that made donations to help feed people in the community.
Brunswick Arts Council Annual Visual Arts Show
This annual event began in 2000 and each year we rotate the show to a different venue. We recently held our 24th year of this event at Franklin Square Gallery in Southport, NC. The following award winners were recognized at the Awards Ceremony on October 4, 2024.
Best of Show
“Owning It”
Watercolor by Bonnie McIver
Two Dimensional
1st Place
“All Summer In A Day ”
Oil by Robert Huntoon
2nd Place
“Splendor “
Soft Pastel by Hayley Martin
3rd Place
“Fall Farmer’s Market”
Watercolor by Buffy Weiss
Honorable Mention
“Pansy Conversation”
Oil by Eileen Sottovia
Honorable Mention
“Skinny Girl with Blue Hair”
Acrylic by Cathryn Collopy O’Donnell
Merit
“On the Vine”
Graphite by Ashley Bell
Merit
“October”
Gouache by Ann Thompson
Photography
1st Place
“Heron Hop”
Caroline Quinn
2nd Place
“Boneyard Beach”
David Kilgore
3rd Place
“The Pink of Spring”
Charleen Baggett
Honorable Mention
“Bird’s Eye View“
Karen George Mortimore
2D Abstract
1st Place
“Balancing Act”
Mixed Media by Luanne Paisley
2nd Place
“Walking Through Town”
Acrylic by Vicki Neilon
3rd Place
“Her Grief Never Ends”
Acrylic by Cathryn Collopy O’Donnell
Honorable Mention
“All that Jazz ll”
Acrylic by Donna Ferrandino
Merit
“Family Matters”
Acrylic by Greta Swaim Mills
2D Digital Art
1st Place
“Spirit in the Sky”
Digital Photograph by John Basmagy
2D Mixed Media
1st Place
“Spring”
by Kim Kirk
2nd Place
“Kindred Spirits”
by Claire Sallenger Martin
3rd Place
“Blossoms of Nature”
by Missy Mohn Schwartz
Honorable Mention
“Love Post”
by Donna Mertz
Merit
“A Stranger and Alone”
by Roseanne Arciero
3 Dimensional
1st Place
“In the Now Woman”
Ceramic by Diane Mibelli
2nd Place
“Lady Penelope”
Clay Ceramic by Emily Noe
3rd Place
“The Handsome Guest”
Wood Sculpture by James Sampson
Honorable Mention
“I’ve Got My Eye On You”
Clay Ceramic by Linda Drye
3 D Decorative
1st Place
“Mossy Stream”
Fiber Art by Donna Mertz
2nd Place
“Zinnia”
Fabric Art Quilt by Lorrie Ingersoll
3 D Arts & Crafts Functional
1st Place
“On The Half Shelf”
Gina Poppe
2nd Place
“Lantern”
Clay Ceramic by Robin Van Vliet
3rd Place
“Orb Revisited”
Clay Ceramic by Cheryl Rogers
Honorable Mention
“Stormy Night”
Coiled Rope Bowl by Lorrie Ingersoll
3 D Abstract
1st Place
“Patchwork”
Fused Glass by Deborah Appleby
2nd Place
“String Theory”
Fused Glass by Gina Poppe
Teen
1st Place
“Air Grabber Ram”
Markers by Robert McMahon
2nd Place
“The Owl”
Acrylic by Samantha Spell
Art League of Leland
“Prince”
Pastel By Hayley Martin
Associated Artists of Southport
“Whisper Walk”
Pastel by Caroline Brizzolara
Oak Island Art Guild
“Day Becomes A Memory “
Acrylic by Prentiss Halladay
Waterway Art Association
“Island’s Gentle Embrace”
Acrylic by Rachel Sunnell
About This Year’s Judge
This year’s Judge is William T. Miller of Myrtle Beach, SC.
William (Billy) H. Miller, originally from Western New York State, is a graduate of NYC’s Parsons School of Design. While he spent much of his career as a computer graphic artist and in online marketing, he never stopped creating his own art. From New York to Texas, and now in South Carolina, Billy has been sharing his unique view of the world through his abstracts. Presently, Billy runs his own studio/art gallery in Myrtle Beach, sharing his own work and supporting the local art community. He has been a Winner & Finalist for Best Artist and Best Gallery in the Happening List and shown twice in ArtFields, and had a solo exhibition at the Art Museum. He is a member of multiple art groups and guilds in the Grand Strand area, and a founding member of the First Fridays Art Walk in the downtown Arts + Innovation District of Myrtle Beach. Billy also has served as a Board Member of the Franklin G Burroughs-Simeon B Chapin Art Museum in Myrtle Beach for nine years before joining the staff as Institutional Planning Coordinator in 2022. As a creative catalyst, Executive Director of TheArtsGrandStrand.org, and Board Member of the Myrtle Beach Downtown Alliance, he is always looking for ways to support the Arts in our community. We are honored to have an artist of his experience and caliber as our judge this year.
Many small community arts groups (photographers, painters, pottery, etc.) around the county come together to help make this annual juried arts show happen. There are different categories and award levels.
BAC Mural Program
If you have a building/wall or space in Brunswick County that you would like to have painted – contact the Arts Council and we can see about partnering to help move your ideas for public art forward!
Leland Mural Project
The Holden Beach 2020 Mural
The first piece was created at Holden Beach design by Gaetin Lowrie & Nancy Turner. Sherwin Williams of Holden Beach donated the pain and materials.
Using an Under the Ocean Theme & and a Paint by Numbers technique, the mural was painted in March 2020. The Run for the Arts scheduled to begin & end at the mural was cancelled due to the 1st case of Covid19 announced in Brunswick County on the day of the race.
Join us for March 2021 as we tackle another mural at Holden Beach & the 2nd Run for the Arts.
My Community Mural
Tell us about your community project and mural idea. Don’t forget to provide your name, organization (if you are requesting on behalf on one), contact information, cell/email/text and bit about the idea.
Mural Program Sponsored by the Town of Holden Beach, NC
The Billboard Contest is underway!
Young people and adults are tempted by alcohol and drugs for decades. Laws are passed and changed, and we continue to fight against alcohol and drug abuse as part of our mental, physical, and emotional health with our families and in our communities.
False glamour, peer pressure, and media attached to these issues have ruined far too many lives.
We ask our youth to develop their own solutions to the challenges they face. According to American for the Arts – 72% of Americans believe arts unify us regardless of age, race or ethnicity – and through the use of arts “we can change the conversation.”
Contest
This contest is open to all youth from ages 8 to 18 years old from Brunswick County.
We ask our youth to design and create posters that communicate a message of sobriety, and the dangers of substance abuse.
They can select from the following Design Topics: Awareness, Recovery, and Education.
Form to submit with drawing:
Prizes:
Six (6) Final Winning Designs will be chosen by a panel of representatives from Brunswick County, including CARE, DEWAA, MADE, Brunswick Arts Council, BACK OFF, Teachers, and Lamar Billboard Company. The images chosen will serve as the images used for community campaigns, including billboards, social media, and other marketing options.
Winning students and their art teacher(s) will receive a combined AWARD AMOUNT total $250 gift card for each final winning design selected ($125 to student & $125 to teacher for art supplies). We hope that award presentations will take place at the upcoming June meeting of the Brunswick County Commissioner’s Meeting at the County Administrative Building in Bolivia.
Questions
For questions or more information, contact Mary Beth Livers at Brunswick Arts Council at 910.448.2713 or email Execdir.
The 2024 Festival was a big success and lots of fun!
The Brunswick County Intercultural Festival was a huge hit! A day of music, dance, International village & craft vendors were on display at RiverwalkPark on October 12. Follow the link below to see the WWAY interview with Mari-Lou Wong Chong, the event organizer.
https://www.wwaytv3.com/17th-annual-brunswick-county-intercultural-festival-happening-this-weekend/
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17th annual Brunswick County Intercultural Festival happening this weekend – WWAYTV3
The Brunswick County Intercultural Festival returned for its 17th annual celebration of cultural diversity on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at Riverwalk Park in Belville. The free event was open to the public from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and offered a wide range of activities, performances, and educational opportunities for people of all ages.
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Celebrate Brunswick County Series
Listen Up Brunswick County was a beloved concert series created by Jeannie and Ron Dufour. The purpose of this performance series is to bring great experiences to residence and guests of Brunswick County.
In 2023, Listen Up Brunswick County was given to Brunswick Arts Council to manage. In the spirit of the Dufour’s, BAC has created a collaborative series of events and festivals called Celebrate Brunswick. Join us for Arts Events that make a difference by partnering with different nonprofits. Proceeds from these concerts and performances help support our local artists, schools, and programs.
We are partnering with the North Carolina Rice Festival and the Brunswick County Intercultural Festival.
This 36-page activity book is a collaboration between NC Rice Festival, Brunswick Arts Council, and Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site. Funding was received from Brunswick County ARPA Grant, Landfall Foundation, NC Arts Council Grassroots Program; with additional input from NC Department of Natual and Cultural Resources and United Way of Cape Fear Area.
This free book is a combination of history, puzzles, coloring pages, and craft activities celebrating the history of rice and the Gullah Geechee communities in Brunswick county. It’s appropriate for 4th Grade education level. Contact the Brunswick Arts Council, the Rice Festival, or Brunswick Town Historic Site for your free copy, while supplies last.
Cinebay Film Festival is rolling!
2024’s Festival will take place at Odell Williamson on October 26, 2024.
Awards & Prizes
$350 for Best Film Award
Film Competition Rules
The following rules govern all film submissions to the Cinebay Film Festival, (“CBFF” or the “Festival “).
Please Note: only Films that are submitted will be considered for competition. We only except short films, no film longer than 30 minutes, that our family friendly, we do not accept films of explore, sex, or sexuality in any form, nor do we except films with hard obscene violence or profane language. See film freeway.com for complete regulations.
Call for Entries
Click this button to find out how to submit your film, or for more information about the festival.
Call will be active beginning April 2024
Screenwriting Workshop
Cinebay is partnering with Brunswick Arts Council for the Screenwriting Workshop. This worshop is held each spring.
Teen Film Making Workshop
This Workshop is co-hosted with the library in Shallotte. It is held each year at the end of July.
Rising ninth graders through 12th graders are eligible to register. there will only be 12 spaces available.
Taught by Sheena Vaught, Film Maker, and owner of Tower 5 Media, the final product will be shown at the Cinebay Film Festival in October.
This is a collaborative program between Tower 5 Media, Brunswick Arts Council, Rourk Library, Brunswick County, NC Arts Council Grassroots Program.
July 4th Activities - Southport, NC
Childrens’ Entertainment area
Participate in the parade
Literary Arts in Brunswick
Cape Fear Voices & Teen Scene
Brunswick Arts Council has been proud to support this monthly publication almost since it’s inception in North Carolina. This team of dedicated community members write, design, and publish both hardcopy and digitally.
Cape Fear Voices features, articles, and pieces contributed by local residents on current happenings, topics of interest & culture/historic pieces.
To contribute, find out more or subscribe contact Cape Fear Voices Editor:
Teen Scene is a publication designed and created by our talented students. In fact, over 80 teens from across the county participate in the Teen Scene.
Each spring, an awards ceremony & banquet is held to recognize and celebrate their accomplishments.
https://cfvts.org/13633/cape-fear-voices/teen-scene-writers-award-banquet-in-the-news/
To contribute, find out more or subscribe contact Teen Scene Editor:
Editions & Read
Click here for a digital edition of the paper.
Literary Arts Academy
This talented team of community members have worked with several schools, and community centers to offer this program to supplement and hone writing skills amongst our students.
If you would like more information on how to offer this free program to your library, school community center or home school, please contact the editor.
To read some of the student works:
https://cfvts.org/category/schools/leland-middle-school/
Third Thursday Poetry
Join this free monthly zoom meeting and get tips from other county poets, share your work, or enjoy and listen to the works of others. This program is hosted by Author, Joan Leotta and funded by Brunswick Arts Council.
For the link to this months meeting contact
Make Music Winter
About
Make Music Day, which originated in 1982, is a global celebration observed on the same day in over 1,000 cities across numerous countries. This unique music festival invites everyone to participate, regardless of age or skill level. Whether you’re a budding amateur or a seasoned professional, there’s a place for you in this harmonious gathering.
The beauty of Make Music Day lies in its inclusivity. It doesn’t matter whether you’re strumming your guitar on a front porch, belting out tunes on a grand stage, or tapping out rhythms on a city sidewalk. All musical styles are welcome—jazz, rock, classical, hip-hop, and everything in between.
There is now a Make Music Winter! We want to show the same love of music on December 21st too! It is the same concept as the June 21st Make Music Day. You could even add some Christmas or holiday caroling, a tradition of singing festive songs during the season.
The seventh nationwide Make Music Winter celebration will take place in 20 cities on Saturday December 21, 2024: all free, joyful, and profoundly participatory.
Is there a better way to celebrate music on December 21st?
And the best part? It’s completely free and open to the public. So, mark your calendar for December 21st and June 21st, and let’s create a symphony that resonates around the world! 🎵🌎🎶.
Participate
🎵🎶 Let’s create a musical symphony together. 🎹🎤🥁
On December 21 and June 21, the stages await for all musicians, rappers, and instrumentalists to join in. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or just starting out, there’s a spot for you in this harmonious ensemble. 🎸🎺🎻
- Singers: Belt out your melodies with passion.
- Church choirs: Bring your heavenly harmonies.
- Jazz combos: Swing those notes and improvise.
- Rock bands: Crank up the amps and let the chords roar.
- Glee clubs: Harmonize and spread joy.
- MCs: Drop your lyrical flow.
- Marching bands: Step in rhythm and create a cadence.
- Mariachis: Strum those guitars and serenade us.
- Carolers: Sing festive songs during the season.
No matter your age or skill level, you’re all welcome. Let’s make December 21 and June 21 days to remember, where music unites us all! 🎵🌟🎶
This event is made possible through a Grant from the North Carolina Arts Council.
Performing Arts in Brunswick
Our musicians, dancers, actors and community programs are growing.
You can find out what’s happening throughout the year:
Pyrates Parlay
Join us for Pyrates Parlay, an unforgettable evening of fun and excitement for adults! Embrace the pirate theme by donning your best pirate costume or your favorite evening attire. The night will be brimming with pirates, live music, a casino, a cash bar, dinner, dancing, a costume contest, and a cigar lounge. Plus, don’t miss the mesmerizing mermaids & siren performing gravity-defying aerial gymnastics!
This event is the Brunswick Arts Council’s largest fundraiser of the year. This year we are also collaborating with the VFW’s Veteran Creative Arts Program (VCAP). VCAP provides Veterans and First Responders in our area with art therapy classes to help manage stress and other mental health issues from their lines of work.
Get your ticket, enjoy a fantastic night, and support BAC and the VCAP programs all at once!
WHO: Adults
WHEN: Saturday, October 26,2024, 5-9PM
WHERE: Sea Trail Golf Resort & Convention Center
75 Clubhouse Road, Sunset Beach, N.C. 28468
CONTACT: Mary Beth Livers, execdir.brunswickartscouncil@gmail.com
Tickets are $100 per person
Come enjoy an evening with the pirates!
5:00 pm Emcee: Anthony & Black Sails Pirate
5:15 pm Welcome & Kick Off
5:30 pm Bloody Mad & Scalawag Orchestra
6:00-6:45 pm Parlay
6:45 pm Pirate Magician
7:00-7:15 pm Doug YellowBeard
7:15-7:45 pm Bloody Mad & Scalawag Orchestra
7:45-8:30 pm Parlay
8:30 pm Pirate Costume Contest –
Best Men
Best Woman
Best Couple
50/50 intercultural Bcc Raffle
Drawings for Auction Items
9:00 pm Depart
Live Music
Parlay
Parlay is a band based in Brunswick County. They play a variety of hits from the 80s to the 2000s. They often perform at local events and festivals, bring a lively mix of music to their audience.
Bloody Mad and the Scalawag Orchestra
“Modern day pirate band, playing music where we can”
Yellowbeard Da Pirate
Yellowbeard Da Pirate is fabulously well known in his own head. He’s traveled the high, low, medium & all the multi colored Seas & has enjoyed pillaging & larceny & murder & all the pirating associated behaviors that a swashbuckler can but has been landlocked ever since his incarceration for tax evasion about 200 years ago. He memorably struggles with memory issues but is happy to join us & is hoping someone can point him in the direction of the Ocean. He can’t remember where it is!
Casino Games
Casino Party Aces have all the popular casino games like Blackjack, Roulette, Craps and Poker. They are bringing those games and dealers to Pyrates Parlay for a fantasy casino where you will play for fun and not for money.
You will receive a Booty Bag containing Funny Money when you check in. The Funny Money will be used to buy chips for playing. Additional Funny Money can be purchased throughout the event.
Siren & Mermaids
Alyscenne The Flying Siren
Aerialist and Artist Alyscenne Vallelonga “The Flying Siren” lives in Southport, NC and has a passion for all things art and performance. You never know what or who you may see dancing in the sky.
SIREN SORSHA
Cigar Lounge in Gazebo
Bookelynn Premium Cigars
You will find a Pyrate Token in your Booty Bag. Pyrate Tokens can be used to purchase our Signature Pyrate Cocktail from one of the bars or a cigar from the Cigar Lounge on the outside patio. Additional Pyrate Tokens can be purchased throughout the evening.
Dare Arts’ 12th Annual Outer Banks Veterans Writing Workshop. This year’s songwriting workshop will be led by singer-songwriter-producer Jana Pochop, co-founder of Soldier Songs and Voices Tony Rosario and founder of the Veterans Writing Project Ron Capps.
This free two-day event will be held in person on the Outer Banks at the beautiful Coastal Studies Institute on Saturday, November 9 and Sunday, November 10 from 9am to 4pm and is open to all Veterans, active-duty military, and their family members.
Please visit DareArts.org/veterans for more detailed information or to register for the workshop. Although the workshop is free, pre-registration is required.
Scholarship Program
Each year, the Brunswick Arts Council provides two or more $1,500 scholarships to Brunswick County High School students. Graduating seniors from across the county, West Brunswick, South Brunswick , North Brunswick, Early College High School as well as home schooled and charter schools with an interest in pursuing Arts in college are eligible.
In 2024, BAC provided three (3) separate scholarships:
Daliya Hall, North Brunswick High School
Selena Barnes, West Brunswick HIgh School
Rayna Chew, North Brunswick High School
Congratulations to these students!
Solstice by the Sea & Make Music Day – June 21, 2025
We have great news! Make Music Day and the Solstice Festival are on the same day! Stay tuned for more information on this event and location for 2025.
This was the 2024 Solstice Festival held at Riverwalk Park in Belville. If you are a musician, storyteller or performer and would like to be considered for the 2025 event, please contact Brunswick Arts Council
VFW Post 12196
Brunswick Arts Council is working with the VFW and Rotary District 7730 to create an art therapy program for Veterans. We are still ironing out the details so check back later for more details.
In the meantime, VFW Post 12196 is celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Proceeds from the event will support post 12196’s Veterans Creative Arts Program.
Get your tickets today! Space is limited.
