For the second year, Dare Arts is hosting two community book club events this spring as a part of North Carolina Humanities’ statewide book club, North Carolina Reads. At the heart of North Carolina Reads is NC Humanities’ desire to connect communities through shared reading experiences. 

Dare Arts’ first North Carolina Reads book club discussion will be held at 6:00pm on Thursday, April 10 at their Gallery in downtown Manteo. 

In April, participants will be discussing On the Swamp by Ryan Emanuel, which is a book that shares stories from North Carolina about Indigenous survival and resilience in the face of radical environmental changes. Attendees will be joined by special guest Gray Parsons, President and Founder of the Secotan Alliance. 

"The intersection of literary art with the mind stimulates our intellect in ways no other artform can,” said President and Founder of the Secotan Alliance Gray Parsons. “From visual imagery to the full range of human emotion, it can educate, entertain, motivate and even heal our being. For many of us, we relish in the opportunity to engage with the artist and those who have been equally touched."

The second book club discussion will be held at 6:00pm on Tuesday, May 13 at Dare Arts.

In May, participants will be discussing The American Queen by Vanessa Miller, which is a historical fiction novel that weaves together themes of love, hate, hope, trust, and resilience in the face of great turmoil. The American Queen is based on actual events that occurred between 1865 – 1889 and shares the unsung history of a Black woman who built a kingdom as a refuge for the courageous people who dared to dream of a different way of life.

Attendees will be joined by special guest Founder and Executive Director of the Peace Garden Project Rev. Dr. Michelle Lewis.

“The literary arts help us bridge the gaps of understanding in our communities and open new worlds for us to experience,” said Rev. Dr. Michelle Lewis. “I love the literary arts because they help us consider what it is to engage the world around us critically while creating new pathways for meaningful conversations.”

Both community book club events are free and open to everyone. 

Dare Arts has received a small batch of books from NC Humanities to give out to people who would like to participate in the event. Although the books are free, they are available on a first come, first served basis. 

“If you want to participate and could benefit from a free book, please stop by the Gallery and see me or give us a call,” said Dare Arts Executive Director Jessica Sands. “We want everyone to have access to the literary arts and are excited to get these books out into our community so that people have time to read them and attend the book club discussions.” 

Both of these books can also be purchased at Downtown Books in Manteo or Duck’s Cottage Coffee & Books in Duck. 

North Carolina Humanities’ North Carolina Reads is a statewide book club exploring the history and culture of North Carolina. The people, places, and events in the books offer an opportunity to reflect on how people can contribute to shaping their communities. North Carolina Humanities is a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, opinions, or recommendations expressed do not necessarily represent those of NC Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.

This program is supported by North Carolina Humanities, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, nchumanities.org.

For more information about these events, visit DareArts.org or call Dare Arts at (252) 473-5558.

In 2025, Dare Arts is commemorating its 50th anniversary by celebrating its past, present, and future. Dare Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization dedicated to encouraging the arts in Dare County through advocacy, enrichment, and opportunity.

The views expressed are that of the artist and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Dare Arts’ employees, the organization, or affiliated entities.