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Arts & Entertainment

The arts, sciences and history are alive and thriving in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.  In fact, the city is recognized as one of the leading cultural capitals in the South, fostering a hub of culture that is diverse, attracts nearly 2.9 million people in attendance annually and is generously supported by the corporate sector, private citizens, the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.  The Charlotte community understands that the arts are crucial to providing a rich, stimulating and enlightened quality of life, complementing our children's overall education and contributing to our reputation as a world-class city.  In addition, the cultural community collectively contributes over $94 million to the local economy, employs over 1,700 people and provides 8,600 volunteer opportunities. 

Charlotte provides ample opportunities for cultural diversion at area museums, including Discovery Place, Museum of the New South the Mint Museum and its sister property, the Mint Museum of Craft + Design.  In addition, the region is strongly supportive of higher learning in arts education.

Another impressive example of Charlotteans' support lies with the dazzling $55 million Blumenthal Performing Arts Center .   Over half of the funding for this magnificent five-level building came from private contributions.  Some of the premiere artistic organizations that audiences can enjoy include the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, the Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra, a regional opera company, a ballet company, a repertory theater troupe, a choral society, Carolinas Concert Association, an oratorio society, a children's theatre and an Afro-American Children's Theater. In addition, there are many smaller groups celebrating ethnic and cultural diversity which include the Afro-American Cultural Center and the Greek orthodox Temple. For information concerning these and many other cultural organizations, visit the Arts & Science Council website at www.artsandscience.org , by phone at (704) 372-9667, or consult the following listings.  

Some Entertaining Places To Go

Children's Theatre of Charlotte
1017 East Morehead Street - 704/376-5745 
www.ctcharlotte.org  

Children are enthralled and delighted when seeing the colorful productions staged by the Children's Theatre of Charlotte. If it inspires their creative inclinations as well, they can take advantage of the drama, theater arts and dance classes taught by the theatre's professional staff.

Discovery Place
301 North Tryon Street - 704/372-6261
www.discoveryplace.org  

Each year over 500,000 people visit Discovery Place, Charlotte's award winning science and technology museum. Major attractions include the OMNIMAX Theater and the Morphus Motion Simulator.  Other major attractions are a three-story rain forest, aquariums featuring boh fresh and salt water exhibits, Our Living Planet and Kid's Place, an early childhood learning area. Many hands-on exhibits are also featured which teach basic principles of science.  Live demonstrations by Discovery Place staff help visitors understand these principals and show why they're important in our everyday lives.

Tryon Center for Visual Art
721 N. Tryon Street - 704/332-5535
www.tryoncenter.org

Tryon Center for Visual Art is a progressive organization committed to enhancing and promoting the visual arts in Mecklenburg County and has built the Charlotte region into a recognized visual arts center offering exhibitions, artists' services, artist-in-residencies, workshops and classes held at Spirt Square in drawing, ceramics, decorative arts, fibers and more.

Mint Museum
2730 Randolph Road - 704/337-2000
www.mintmuseum.org  

This regional museum, originally located on West Trade Street, was the first branch of the Philadelphia Mint, coining currency from 1837 -1861 and operated as an assay office from 1867 - 1913. A grassroots effort saved the building from demolition and moved it to its present Randolph Road site in 1936 as the state's first art museum.  The Mint's many important collections include European and American paintings from the Renaissance, porcelain, period clothing, pre-Columbian art, African art, and antique coins and money. In addition, the museum hosts prestigious touring exhibitions such as "Rameses the Great: The Pharaoh and His Time" and "The Gilded Age: Treasurers from the Smithsonian American Art Museum."  The museum also organizes major exhibits that tour nationally including "Michael Lucero, Southern Arts and Crafts 1890-1940" and "The Sport of Life and Death: The Mesoamerican Ballgame."

On the social side, museum goers can enjoy a summertime jazz and film festival, independent film series, a Rites to Spring party and a Faux Arts Ball which are all sponsored by the Mint's Young Affiliates group.

Mint Museum of Craft + Design
220 N. Tryon Street - 704/337-2000
www.mintmuseum.org  

Hailed as a leader in the field, The Mint Museum of Craft + Design features a permanent collection that documents contemporary studio craft, tracing the movement's historical roots in the 19th century and its relationship to traditional decorative arts and industrial design. The techniques and inspiration of artists throughout the world are showcased in collections of ceramics, fiber, glass, metal and wood.  Of note are three architectural commissions: a glass chandelier by Seattle artist Dale Chihuly and an architectural glass wall by Massachusetts artist Tom Patti and Czechoslovakin artists Stanislav Libensky and Jaroslava Brychtova. 

Levine Museum of the New South
200 7th Street - 704/333-1887
www.museumofthenewsouth.org

The Levine Museum of the New South houses the nation's most comprehensive interpretation of post-Civil War Southern history.  The Museum features interactive, multi-sensory exhibits which engage visitors of all ages.  With vibrant, inviting spaces, the museum presents history that inspires and challenges, educates and delights.

The core exhibit traces the growth of Charlotte and the Carolina Piedmont from 1865 to the present.  The exhibit will offer visitors a comprehensive look at the region's post-Civil War history through a myriad of voices and views.

Great Aunt Stella Center
926 Elizabeth Avenue - 704/339-0125
www.stellacenter.org

A community-supported organization, the Great Aunt Stella Center is housed in the renovated historic Tabernacle ARP Church.  Music and entertainment, lectures, and dialogues, the Great Aunt Stella Center incorporates and promotes activities in art and culture, education, human services, religion and spirituality.

The North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
130 North Tryon Street - 704/333-4686
www.performingartsctr.org  

Another impressive example of Charlotteans' commitment to the arts lies with the corporate and private gifts to build the dazzling $55 million North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center designed by world-renowned architect, Cesar Pelli & Associates, this breathtaking performing arts center showcases the best in opera, symphony, chorus, dance and theater. Home to many of the community's arts organizations, it also hosts many national touring companies and famous entertainers such as Ray Charles, Whoopie Goldberg and Winton Marsalis.

Located in the Bank of America Corporate Center and Founders Hall, this dazzling facility rivals anything seen in New York or San Francisco. Featuring dramatic marble and tile, it offers a plush, elegant ambiance. Its centerpiece is the 2,100 seat Belk Theater reminiscent of the European horseshoe fashion with four levels of seating alt offering a wonderful vantage point. The farthest seat is less than 135 feet from the stage.

Complementing the performance hall is a 440 seat Booth Playhouse with its courtyard style proscenium capable of cabaret performances or theater-in-the-round. The center also houses a Studio Theater for even smaller performances.

Ovens Auditorium
2700 East Independence Boulevard - 704/372-3600
www.independencearena.com  

This 2,600 seat facility was built as part of a Coliseum-Auditoriurn complex in the mid 1950s and still serves the community well. A wide variety of performances are held including the ballet, the opera, the Philharmonic Orchestra and touring Broadway shows.

Afro-American Cultural Center
401 North Myers Street - 704/374-1565
www.aacccharlotte.org  

Black history and cultural values are nurtured and celebrated in the Afro-American Cultural Center.  Originally the Little Rock AME Zion Church, the building was spared from demolition due to citizen outcry. The center now houses a performance place, an art gallery, a research and resource center, and educational classes.

Spirit Square
345 North College Street - 704/372-1000
www.performingartsctr.org  

Spirit Square, formerly home of the First Baptist Church, is managed by the Performing Arts Center.  The twice renovated Spirit Square has been a multi-arts complex since 1976. This ornate facility is a focal point for innovative theater productions, probing exhibits, exciting performances and wonderfully diverse educational opportunities for all ages. Three interconnected buildings house three performance theaters, seven galleries, six studios, and various classroom spaces.  The 700 seat McGlohon Theatre continues to be the pride of Spirit Square.  Originally the church's sanctuary, the theater offers intimate and regal surroundings with pure acoustics.

A Sampling Of Our High Caliber Performing Arts Groups

Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra
PO Box 470987 - 704/846-2788
www.charlottephilharmonic.org  

The Philharmonic Orchestra is a 75 piece, Boston Pops style, orchestra that performs both the Classics and Broadway Tunes. They present 10 to 12 concerts a year with dancers, instrumentalists, singers, and a 200 voice choir at Christmas.

Charlotte Repertory Theatre
129 W. Trade Street - 704/372-1000
www.charlotterep.org  

Charlotte Repertory Theatre, the Central Carolinas' only fully professional theatre, is led by producing artistic director Michael Bush and managing director Matt Olin.  Founded in 1977, the Rep has been the resident theatre company of the NC Blumenthal Performing Arts Center since 1992.

Recognized as one of the city's principal cultural resources and a leader in the regional theatre movement, the Rep is a member of the League of Resident Theatres, an organization of carefully chosen not-for-profit professional regional theatres throughout America.  Membership in LORT links the Rep with the best professional theatres in the country and sets an artistic standard for excellence. 

The Rep's newly redesigned web site, www.charlotterep.org, provides a complete overview of the star-studded 2002-2003 season.  For more information or to request the season brochure, go online or call 704-372-1000.

Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
201 S. College Street, Suite 110 - 704/972-2000
www.charlottesymphony.org  

The Charlotte Symphony is celebrating its 70th Anniversary with the 2001-2002 Season, under the leadership of newly appointed Music Director Christof Perick.  The area's largest and most active professional performing arts organization, the Charlotte Symphony employs more than 100 professional musicians and operates on an annual budget of $7.1 million.  The CSO performs principally in its home, the 2,000 seat acoustically acclaimed Belk Theater of the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.  The Orchestra's season runs from September through July 4 with over 115 performances each year and more than 800 educational services throughout the region.  

North Carolina Dance Theatre
800 North College Street - 704/372-0101
www.ncdance.org  

Founded in 1970, the North Carolina Dance Theatre is one of the most sought after and highly acclaimed dance companies performing today. Their superb dancers, directed by Jean Pierre Bonnefoux, a former star with the Paris Opera Ballet and the New York City Ballet, perform an exciting and diverse repertoire of classic ballets and contemporary works.

Dance Theater offers a full season of performances in the new performing Arts Center including a holiday classic, The Nutcracker. Dance enthusiasts can also see the company at various community celebrations.

DancePlace, the company's official school, offers a wide range of classes and dance-related activities for all ages and abilities. However, their main focus remains the training of aspiring young professional dancers.

Opera Carolina
345 North College Street, Spirit Square, Suite 409 - 704/372-1000
www.operacarolina.org  

Performing since 1948, Opera Carolina is the state's oldest opera company. It also enjoys the distinction of being the largest regional opera company between Washington, DC and Miami.  With an annual budget of $2.0 million, Opera Carolina's season includes four productions featuring world famous singers, elaborate sets and painstakingly detailed costumes.

Productions are performed in the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. In addition, each year over l00,000 people have taken advantage of the company's outreach program of school and community shows throughout the Southeast.

Theatre Charlotte
501 Queens Road -704/334-9128
www.theatrecharlotte.org  

Celebrating its 72nd season, Theatre Charlotte is the state's oldest community theater. Each year, six main stage productions are held. This non-professional theater company gives high caliber performances and is supported by over 700 volunteers.

Education And Training In The Arts

Six colleges, universities and schools located in the Charlotte area enrich the community's arts environment.  They provide a diverse number of educational opportunities as well as outstanding performances in music, theater and dance.

Central Piedmont Community College
Elizabeth Avenue at Kings Drive - 704/342-6534
www.cpcc.nc.us

Davidson College
Davidson - 704/892-2000
www.davidson.edu

Johnson C. Smith University
100 Beatties Ford Road - 704/378-1000
www.jcsu.edu

Queens University of Charlotte
1900 Selwyn Avenue - 704/332-7121
www.queens.edu

University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Highway 49 North - 704/687-2200
www.uncc.edu

Community School of the Arts
345 North College Street, Suite 413 - 704/377-4187
www.csarts.org

The Art Institute of Charlotte
Three LakePointe Plaza, 2110 Water Ridge Parkway - 704/357-8020
www.aich.aii.edu


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