The NC Arts Disaster Relief Fund, organized by the North Carolina Arts Foundation, provides support to artists and arts organizations affected by Hurricane Helen.
Katie Murray is director of the Orange County Arts Commission and has been promoting the North Carolina Arts Disaster Relief Fund for the past two weeks.
“A lot of artists live there[in Western North Carolina]because they’re serious about making a living from their art,” she says. “And Asheville has a lot of space to allow us to do that. So it’s about supporting our community, but it’s also about strengthening the community of artists wherever we are.”
Murray said the committee is raising funds for local artists affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and has programs in place to support area artists, especially during times of disaster. . Either way, supporting other communities across the state is just one way we can continue to promote the arts in North Carolina, which is part of the commission’s purpose.
Wayne Martin, executive director of the N.C. Arts Foundation, said the foundation hopes to donate 100% of the funds raised directly to nonprofit arts organizations and artists in affected areas. They want these people to be able to use that money to get their businesses back on their feet and do what they believe is best for the arts community as a whole.
Martin said the foundation’s mission is to build public-private partnerships for arts education programs and increase the number of people who benefit.
Regarding the relief fund in particular, Martin said the North Carolina Arts Foundation has partnered with businesses such as Arts North Carolina, a statewide arts advocacy organization, to spread information about the fund to people in North Carolina and beyond. . .
“From the reports, it’s a pretty dire situation,” he said. “We can’t communicate. They have no water and limited power. Cell phone service is spotty.”
Jessica Sands, executive director of Dare Arts on the Outer Banks, said the studio has been working to promote the relief fund by holding fundraisers and donating 100% of the money raised. She said the studio’s mission is to support the arts and artists throughout the state.
