Come To Our Cabaret

"Come to Our Caberet" is a major fundraising event for the Community Council for the Arts. Proceeds support the general operations of the 501C-3 nonprofit cultural organization whose work is dedicated to the community and region through cultural and educational projects for all. The CCA is also very involved in public art, tourism and arts driven economic development.

The Community Council for the Arts welcomes you to the auction for our Annual Fall Gala. We are continuing our celebration of 50 years of service to the artistic community and all residents of Kinston/Lenoir Co. and the surrounding region. Our service occurs both within our walls and throughout our community and extended region. We are one of three arts councils across the state working with counties contiguous to ours, assisting them with programs, grant writing and organization capacity building. We work with enrichment programs, public art enhancement projects, education opportunities, heritage and cultural tourism, artist development and promotion, and arts-driven economic development.

As a multi-faceted small business, we operate a premier 30,000 square foot historic property and offer facility and artist studio rental spaces, classes/workshops and summer camps, show works from more than 300 artists annually in our galleries, and operate a gift shop and membership services.

Ninety-five percent ( 95%) of our annual operating budget is funded through an annual campaign, rental fees, gift shop/gallery sales and fundraising events. We have been successful in grant writing efforts through the years, enabling us to work in our schools and community in enrichment and education programs, grow our public art program to the largest in North Carolina operated by an arts council, offer nationally acclaimed artists of all genre performances and exhibits, and engage in heritage and cultural projects such as being the hub of the 8-county African American Music Trails of Eastern North Carolina. These grants, however, do not help with day to day operating expenses, hence the need for events such as the Annual Fall Gala. We accomplish all of this with a small staff and an abundance of volunteers, a myriad of community partners and individual arts and cultural advocates like you. These combined efforts of many, along with your financial support in attending events, supporting fundraisers and annual membership, have sustained the Arts Council for the past 50 years and are paramount to future sustainability.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, staff and volunteers of the Arts Council, we express our appreciation for your advocacy and investment in the arts and cultural life for all in our community. The arts are a driving force in our day to day lives and are core to our humanity. Your active support of the Arts Council is an investment in the quality of life you and your family enjoy and from which all citizens in Kinston/Lenoir Co. benefit.