Half A Century Celebration Well Underway At Dare Arts
- Dare County Arts Council
- Apr 4
- 4 min read
A vibrant mix of visual and literary arts comprised the first quarter of Dare Arts’ 50th anniversary, and according to the nonprofit’s Executive Director Jessica Sands there is a busy and exciting spring in store.
“This year’s momentous celebration has been three years in the making,” said Dare Arts Executive Director Jessica Sands. “Dare Arts staff, board, artists, and volunteers have been digging deep on special touches, exciting exhibits, and new events for 2025. We’re overjoyed by the enthusiastic support from our community.”
In February, the 47th Annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show saw over 100 entries from local and regional artists, and in March Dare Arts hosted a sold out Women’s Writing Workshop with North Carolina Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green.
Women traveled from as far as Asheville, NC and Carrollton, VA to attend the workshop, which focused on exploring their human museums.
“This workshop was about building community,” said North Carolina Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green. “We became architects and found the things that connect us with humanity.”
Raleigh, NC group Community In Motion (ComMotion) is visiting the Outer Banks in April for a residency through Dare Arts’ Power of Art Program.
ComMotion is a nonprofit whose mission is to build community and improve well-being through adaptive and inclusive movement. They provide people of all walks of life the opportunity to engage in artistic pursuits that stimulate the mind, body and soul.
“We have worked in communities all over North Carolina, quite literally from Murphy to Manteo, and Dare Arts sets the standard for bringing the arts to their entire community,” said ComMotion Executive Director Robin McCall. “They are passionate about making art available and accessible to all, and it is truly an honor to collaborate with them on The Power of Art.”
During their residency, ComMotion is leading eight different free classes with groups from Gentle Expert Memorycare (GEM) Adult Day Services, Monarch Beach Club, Outer Banks Dementia Friendly Coalition (OBXDFC), the Virginia S. Tillett Community Center, the Thomas A. Baum Senior Center, and Outer Banks Health’s Stroke Support Network.
Many of these groups are part of Dare Arts’ Power of Art program, which serves adults with developmental delays/disabilities, adults with cognitive decline and dementia, and those touched by cancer.
A special 50th anniversary exhibition, spotlighting the Power of Art program’s participants and instructors, will open in the Courtroom Gallery at 6pm on Friday, April 4 during First Friday in downtown Manteo.
“Dare Arts piloted the Power of Art program in 2016 to connect special groups residing in Dare County with the joy of self-expression through creating a work of art,” said artist Barbara Hanft, who has been an integral part of the program since its inception. “Each month our artists plan and guide projects for our participants living with health issues such as developmental delays, memory loss, and cancer. Everyone has been working hard to create pieces for the upcoming exhibition, which will be a beautiful multimedia display that celebrates the human mosaic of our Power of Art community.”
The Power of Art exhibit will be on display in the Courtroom Gallery through Saturday, April 26.
Looking ahead, Dare Arts is partnering with the Don and Catharine Bryan Cultural Series to bring the Saakumu Dance Troupe from Ghana to the Outer Banks in May for a week-long residency that includes visits to community events and Dare County schools.
The 28th Annual Mollie Fearing Memorial Art Show, which honors the nonprofit’s founding president, will open at Dare Arts at 2pm on Sunday, May 4 and remain on display through May 31.
And on Saturday, May 10 Dare Arts will bring kids art activities, live music, theater, an artisan market, and the Saakumu Dance Troupe to Dowdy Park for the 36th Annual Artrageous Kids Art Festival, which is a free, family-friendly event.
With a jam-packed spring, Dare Arts Executive Director Jessica Sands invites the community to come out and experience one of these events or exhibits.
“Meet your friends at First Friday, bring your kids to Artrageous, or take a chance and enter your piece in the Mollie Fearing show,” added Sands. “There is something for everyone this spring at Dare Arts!”
For more information on Dare Arts’ upcoming events, visit DareArts.org or call 252 473 5558.
Everyone is invited to participate in Dare Arts’ $50 For 50 Years fundraiser, which was created to support the organization's future fund for building updates at the historic courthouse and special projects. Donations can be made online at DareArts.org/support or at the Gallery in downtown Manteo.
Dare Arts’ 50th anniversary is supported by the Outer Banks Community Foundation, Dare County, the Don & Catharine Bryan Cultural Series, and TowneBank.
This project is supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources.
This project is sponsored by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau.
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.
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