The first and oldest arts council in the nation is turning 75 — and you’re invited to the celebration.

With a long history of fostering the arts in Forsyth County that began Aug. 9. 1949, Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County is marking their 75th anniversary with a yearlong series of events that aim to:

Partner and collaborate with local artists, organizations + businesses to host monthly events and encourage broad participation and representation.
Invite the community to join the fun, the cause, and the recognition of the arts’ massive presence and importance in Winston-Salem and beyond.

Psst: Arts Council is no stranger to being a driving force for the local arts — they held 670 events on their campus in 2023 alone, and welcomed 60,000 attendees to theatre, dance, comedy, music, visual arts, literary arts + more.

🎶 Kicking off this weekend

Ready to get the party started? The jubilee of 75th anniversary events kicks off this weekend with these two events:

Juneteenth Festival

Saturday, June 15 | 1-8 p.m. | Innovation Quarter, 575 Patterson Ave. | Free

Hosted by Triad Cultural Arts, the Juneteenth Festival brings the community together to celebrate the significant contribution of African Americans to society and the arts. Enjoy a packed schedule with artisan merchandise, exhibits, kids activities, educational experiences, food trucks, and back-to-back live music + dance performances.

The Martha Bassett Show: Live at Tanglewood Park

Sunday, June 16 | 2-5 p.m. | Tanglewood Park, 4061 Clemmons Rd. | Free

Part of Arts Council’s 9th Annual Parks Concert Series, this family-friendly outdoor concert features a live taping of The Martha Bassett Show, a weekly music program showcasing NC artists and culture as it ties to Americana roots. Guests include musicians Sonny Miles, The Onyx Club Boys, and Dori Freeman. Pro tip: This makes a great Father’s Day afternoon event.

👏 More events coming

Keep your eyes peeled on Arts Council's 75th anniversary page for anniversary events happening throughout the year.

Join the celebration
https://6am-city.typeform.com/to/XmnWPhUV