THE ARTS COUNCIL OF GREATER GREENSBORO (FORMERLY ARTSGREENSBORO)
BACKGROUND
The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro is a community-supported nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting artists, musicians, dancers, and performing arts organizations through financial grant programs, governmental partnerships, and advocacy efforts. The nonprofit was formerly known as ArtsGreensboro, but went through a rebrand after the conclusion of my internship. With this being said, much of the promotional projects I created still had the organization’s former logo and name.
PROJECTS
During this internship, I took on many roles, from being the key creative force behind promotional assets to helping generate increased press coverage of the nonprofit organization. Several of the projects I worked on during my time as an intern included a whiteboard animation video, informative infographic, several online blog articles, and two press materials.
THE SOLUTION
Each project helped to uplift the nonprofit organizations’s mission and vision while spotlighting individual artists and arts organizations, giving them a newfound platform to share their voice and talents. All creative materials and promotional assets utilized brand colors and cohesive, impactful language.
WHITEBOARD ANIMATION VIDEO
Told from the perspective of a local artist, this whiteboard animation video brings the nonprofit’s purpose to life and explains the artist support grantee program. I sketched out a storyboard, created digital illustrations, and recorded my own voiceover. In addition, I provided subtitles for each frame of the whiteboard animation video in order to make the video more accessible.
STORYBOARD FOR WHITEBOARD ANIMATION VIDEO
INFORMATIVE INFOGRAPHIC
Created with Adobe Illustrator, this informative infographic highlights accomplishments made during the 2021-2022 fiscal year. The infographic uses a bigger, bolder typeface to call attention to important numbers and statistics. In addition, the infographic intertwines brand colors with digitally designed images of a painter’s palette, ballet shoes, and music notes.
COLOR PALETTE
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PRIMARY FONT
PRESS MATERIALS
In an effort to expand awareness and strengthen community bonds, I crafted press materials about upcoming events and current advocacy strides the nonprofit had made.
ONLINE BLOG ARTICLES
After conducting keyword research about popular performing arts and topics in North Carolina people were searching, I decided to write several blog posts that included keywords and subjects with high search volumes and a low keyword difficulty in order to have improved SEO-optimization for the performing arts nonprofit. Two examples of blog posts I wrote are below.
10 FUN THINGS TO DO IN GREENSBORO, NC
Greensboro is home to a vibrant, growing arts and cultural scene. Here are 10 fun things you can do in "The Gate City."Photo credit: Sean Pavone/Triad Business JournalWith a variety of attractions and entertainment, there is never a dull moment in Greensboro, North Carolina! Greensboro is located in the heart of the Piedmont Triad and is North Carolina’s third largest city. The city has a rich history, spanning from the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in 1781 to a sit-in that served as a defining moment in the Civil Rights Movement. Today, Greensboro is home to artists, museums, theaters, shopping, restaurants, parks, and numerous special events throughout the year. Visitors, families, and residents alike can continue to engage in and enjoy Greensboro’s growing arts scene! Here are 10 fun things to do in Greensboro, NC!1. Greensboro Cultural Arts CenterLocated in the center of downtown Greensboro, the Greensboro Cultural Arts Center is home to numerous public art galleries and nonprofit organizations. Visitors can enjoy viewing art installations in galleries, such as the GreenHill Center for NC Art. The Greenhill Center for NC Art is dedicated to presenting and promoting contemporary visual art and includes the artwork of children, adults, and local artists. Installations and exhibitions often combine a variety of multimedia elements and offer visitors a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in art. Entry to the Greensboro Cultural Arts Center is free and parking is available nearby.2. Steven Tanger Center for Performing ArtsThe Steven Tanger Center for Performing Arts is a hub for live entertainment in downtown Greensboro. The 3,000-seat performing arts venue hosts touring Broadway productions, concerts, Greensboro Symphony Orchestra performances, comedy shows, and other live entertainment for families and all people. Recent performances include the Broadway sensations Wicked and Disney’s The Lion King. Tickets for upcoming performances and events can be purchased on the Steven Tanger Center for Performing Arts website.3. International Civil Rights Center & MuseumThe International Civil Rights Center & Museum is located in the same building where the Greensboro Four — college students at NC A&T — began sit-ins during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. Exhibits inside the museum bring to life powerful stories of the Civil Rights Movement and celebrate those who fought for equal rights and racial equity. Staff-guided tours and seated tours are available to visitors, and can be booked on the International Civil Rights Center & Museum website. In addition, the museum offers virtual tours. Walk-ins to the museum are welcome.4. Weatherspoon Art MuseumSituated on the campus of UNC-Greensboro, the Weatherspoon Art Museum is home to a wide variety of modern and contemporary art pieces. Collections in the museum include the 1900 to Present Collection, the Dillard Collection of Art on Paper, and newly acquired works from the 20th and 21st centuries. Group and self-guided tours are available to museum visitors, and free visitor parking is available near the museum. 5. Lebauer ParkVisitors of Lebauer Park are welcome to enjoy the park’s fountains, playground, paved walkways and lush green spaces. Sculptor Janet Echelman’s piece entitled Where We Met hangs high above the park. The design of the sculpture was inspired by Greensboro’s textile industry and railroad system. Lebauer Park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. unless otherwise posted for special events. Parking is available at nearby parking decks.6. ElsewhereElsewhere is an interactive, living museum in a former thrift store in downtown Greensboro. The museum is home to a quirky, unique collection of memorabilia and an artist residency program. Visitors are encouraged to explore the interactive exhibits of the museum, and tours are available. Both street parking and paid parking are available on nearby streets. 7. Greensboro Science CenterA museum, aquarium, and zoo all in one! The Greensboro Science Center is filled with activities and exhibits for visitors of all ages to get in touch with nature and explore the world of science. In addition, visitors can also purchase tickets for SKYWILD, a treetop ropes course at the science center. The Greensboro Science Center is open year-round, with the exception of several holidays, general admission tickets are available to purchase on their website. Parking is available in nearby parking lots.8. Community Theatre of GreensboroFounded in 1949, the Community Theatre of Greensboro is one of the oldest arts organizations in the city. The theatre hosts a variety of live community performances along with youth theatre programs, such as Centerstage and various summer camps. Tickets for performances are available to purchase on the Community Theatre of Greensboro website.9. Ambleside GalleryThe Ambleside Gallery is home to paintings and sculptures from more than thirty artists. Guan Weixing, a renowned watercolorist from China, has various pieces on display at the art gallery. The gallery was originally founded in England, but moved to Greensboro in the summer of 2003. Guests are encouraged to enjoy the gallery’s exhibitions, workshops, lectures, seminars, and cultural performances, on occasion. 10. Carolina TheatreThe Carolina Theatre first opened its doors in 1927 and was billed as “The Showplace of the Carolinas.” The theatre still retains its historic charm and today continues to host live performances, concerts, and movie screenings. Tickets for performances and movie screenings are available for purchase on the theatre’s website. Visitors can schedule a tour of the historic theatre for a fee.5 UPCOMING EASTERN MUSIC FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES FEATURING GUEST ARTISTS
As the Eastern Music Festival begins its 61st season in a few weeks, here are 5 highlights of upcoming performances featuring guest artists!Photo courtesy of Eastern Music Festival / ArtsGreensboroThe 61st season of the Eastern Music Festival (EMF) begins in a few short weeks, and there will be over 60 performances by various ensembles and artists! Performances in Greensboro will take place at venues, such as the Dana Auditorium at Guilford College and the Steven Tanger Center for Performing Arts. Tickets for performances are available for purchase NOW at https://easternmusicfestival.org/tickets/. Below are 5 upcoming performances at the Eastern Music Festival featuring guest artists and performers!June 29: William Wolfram, Signature Performance: Piano RecitalWilliam Wolfram is a renowned pianist and EMF faculty artist who has appeared with the San Francisco, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Seattle, and New Jersey symphonies along with the Buffalo Philharmonic, the National Symphony, the Flordia Orchestra, and many other ensembles. Wolfram is a graduate of the Juilliard School and lives in New York City. On June 29 at 8 p.m., Wolfram will captivate audiences with a solo recital at the Dana Auditorium at Guilford College. Wolfram will play the works of Schumann, Liszt, and Chopin on his piano. Tickets for the performance can be purchased through clicking the following link: https://easternmusicfestival.org/event/signature-performance-william-wolfram-piano-recital/.July 2: Lara St. John and Eastern Festival Orchestra, Joseph M. Bryan Jr. Festival Orchestra Series: All American CelebrationLara St. John is a Canadian violinist who has performed with the Boston Pops, the Royal Philharmonic, NDR Symphony, and Zurich Chamber Orchestra as well as the orchestras of Toronto, Montreal, San Francisco, Seattle, and more. She began playing violin when she was only two years old and made her first appearance as a soloist with an orchestra at age four.She will be joined by the Eastern Festival Orchestra for an unforgettable performance on July 2 at 8 p.m. at Guilford College’s Dana Auditorium. Audiences will enjoy an evening featuring all American composers, including Gershwin, Barber, and Hanson. Tickets for the performance can be purchased using the following link: https://easternmusicfestival.org/event/festival-orchestra-series-all-american-celebration/.July 9: Santiago Rodriguez and Eastern Festival Orchestra, Joseph M. Bryan Jr. Festival Orchestra Series: UnitySantiago Rodriguez is a Cuban-American pianist and EMF faculty artist who has performed internationally with orchestras such as the London Symphony, the Dresden Staatskapelle, the Weimar Philharmonic, the Yomiuri-Nippon Symphony Orchestra of Japan, and the Tampere Philharmonic of Finland, among many others. Rodriguez also has performed as a chamber musician with ensembles, including the Guarneri String Quartet and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.On July 9 at 8 p.m., Rodriguez and the Eastern Festival Orchestra will delight audiences with a performance of both old and new symphonic pieces by composers, such as Valerie Coleman, Grieg, and Tchaikovsky, at the Steven Tanger Center for Performing Arts. Tickets for the concert are available to purchase through the Tanger Center using the following link: https://easternmusicfestival.org/event/festival-orchestra-series-unity/.July 19: The Mile-End Trio and Eastern Chamber PlayersThe Mile-End Trio encompasses violinist Jeff Multer, cellist Julian Schwarz, and pianist Marika Bournaki. Multer, Schwarz, and Bournaki are all EMF faculty artists and have performed at the Eastern Music Festival in previous years.Multer, Schwarz, and Bournaki will join the Eastern Chamber Players for a performance on July 19 at 8 p.m. at Dana Auditorium at Guilford College. The performance will include pieces by Mozart, Giacomo Susani, and Schubert. Tickets for the performance are available for purchase through clicking on the following link: https://easternmusicfestival.org/event/eastern-chamber-players-9/.July 30: Markia Bournaki and Eastern Festival Orchestra, 61st Season Festival Orchestra Series Festival FinaleMarkia Bournaki is a pianist, EMF faculty artist, and member of The Mile-End Trio who has appeared as a guest soloist for the symphony orchestras of Montreal, Quebec, and St. Petersburg alongside Romania’s Timisoara Filharmonica and Switzerland’s Verbier Chamber Orchestra. Bournaki holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The Juilliard School and lives in New York City.Bournaki and the Eastern Festival Orchestra will bring the 61st season of the Eastern Music Festival to a close with an astounding performance on July 30 at 8 p.m. at the Dana Auditorium at Guilford College. The culminating performance will include works from the composers Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Tchaikovsky, and Strauss. Tickets for the performance are available for purchase using the following link: https://easternmusicfestival.org/event/61st-season-festival-finale/.Stay updated on the latest information about the 61st season of the Eastern Music Festivals, including performances, venue locations, and events leading up to the festival, through our blog!