As a former choir kid with a college music minor, arts and culture has a special place in my heart. And I feel particularly grateful to find myself in a place where it is the backbone of our community.
Fayetteville is known for its prominent arts scene and distinct cultural fabric. In this “Arts & Culture” magazine edition, we bring to the forefront those who laid the foundation for local arts, who pioneered new traditions, and who continue to enhance local arts through magical craftsmanship.
The Arts Council celebrated its 50th anniversary earlier this year; one of the features in this issue recounts the nonprofit’s history, paying homage to the individuals who started the organization and continue to carry out its legacy today.
LeJuane Bowens and his Detour Slam Team have established a thriving slam poetry community. We dive into what poetry means to LeJuane and how his — and other local poetry greats’ — efforts to pass along its influence resulted in the creation of the Southeastern Regional NC Poetry Festival, hosted right here in Fayetteville.
Finally, for this magazine’s cover story, we put the spotlight on the often-untold stories of those who find themselves backstage during theater productions: prop makers and costume designers. Alongside actors and the other elements of a production, the props and costumes worn by performers tie the shows together, helping suspend an audience’s disbelief. We invite them center stage to give them their flowers and a standing ovation.
This month is also Breast Cancer Awareness month, and Cape Fear Valley Health brings us a sponsored feature about the importance of regular screenings and early detection. One survivor shares her story of how early detection saved her life.
Our columnists this month share their thoughts and experiences on arts and culture: the art of writing letters, the preference for a less spooky “spooky season,” the preparations and expectations about cultural shifts during PCS season, and the top seven poetry picks for this month.
Are you eager for this month’s selection of events? We’ve compiled a list of 19 fun-filled activities to enjoy in our To-Do List. Of note, we have our annual signature Food, Wine & ART event, presented by Cape Fear Valley Health, on Oct. 10 at Cape Fear Botanical Garden. Click here to buy tickets.
We also attended the Symphony on Tap event last month. Did you? If so, you may be in this magazine issue. Check out if you were featured here.
As always, we hope you enjoy this issue and the beautiful visuals captured by Tony Wooten. And don’t hesitate to email me a story pitch if you have any suggestions for stories to include in our monthly magazine.
Thank you for reading!
Read CityView Magazine’s “Arts & Culture” October 2024 e-edition here.
