Resources can make or break an artist’s success. Whether it’s funding, manpower, or spaces to operate in, artists and arts organizations are often dependent on resources like donations, grants, volunteers and community gathering spaces that they can use for free or at discounted rates.
The Arts Council of Fayetteville and Cumberland County is expanding its operations, intent on bridging the gap between local arts organizations and the resources they desperately need.
214 Burgess Street is now home to ArtsXL, a multi-use venue refurbished by the Arts Council that houses office space, conference rooms, and rehearsal space. Some local arts organizations, such as Cumberland Choral Arts, have already settled into office space there.
“This space is going to help elevate our community and reach people who otherwise have not been served,” shared Robert Pinson, president and CEO of the Arts Council.
According to Pinson, the Arts Council is primarily a funds-granting agency that also provides program support. They seek to help increase the capacity of arts organizations in town, grow cultural tourism, operate a robust grant program, and help fund other arts organizations.
Organizations they help fund include Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Gilbert Theater, and more. The Arts Council itself has received several grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a privilege that Pinson says “not only speaks to our credibility, but the fact that others are seeing value in what we’re adding.”
Local arts organizations can use space at ArtsXL for free with the payment of a security deposit.
“If it’s a cultural arts-based sort of activity, they can use it,” said Pinson. “The goal is to build up these organizations and make them stronger, and then at the same time, make our community stronger. So the real positive impact is providing people in the community the opportunity to grow and expand.”
Pinson shared stories of how ArtsXL is already changing local arts organizations. He said Cumberland Choral Arts previously stored files and music in their president's garage due to a lack of office space.
“Now we’re able to give them a place to store all that,” he said.
The performing arts group Sweet Tea Shakespeare recently held performances on three consecutive nights because the space they were using had a seating capacity of 25. They now have a performance scheduled at ArtsXL, where there’s a seating capacity of 125-150.
“In one performance, they can actually sell more tickets and reach a larger audience than they did in that one weekend,” explained Pinson. “Hopefully that's going to do a lot of things—expand their network, expand their revenue, make them a stronger organization, and allow them to put on even more and exciting sorts of performances.”
“It's been cool to see, from the time that we first acquired the building, to where it is now, how some organizations are starting to build a space,” explained Miles McKeller-Smith, director of public relations. “The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra had an event there right before holiday break, and we’re just continuing to see how this can grow these local organizations when space might have been a ceiling for them.”
214 Burgess Street is owned by the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry, with whom the Arts Council has signed a 10-year lease.
The building’s history has a unique connection to the Arts Council’s main operating space at 301 Hay Street. 301 Hay Street was originally built as Fayetteville’s Post Office. Over the years, it functioned as a central hub for the city, with people coming and going frequently. It’s still fondly called Fayetteville’s “living room” by some.
Pinson explained that when the 301 Hay Street Post Office was under construction, “The Fayetteville Independent Light infantry actually had a building back where Greg's Pottery is right now (122 Maxwell Street), and as part of the building the post office, they kind of bumped the Independent Light Infantry out of their spot, and the Infantry actually moved over and built these buildings at 214 Burgess Street.”
What started as a drill hall is now home to another variety of drills—instead of weapons handling, musical instruments are the tools of choice, instead of military formations, theater choreography.
“The Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry is very kind in allowing us to rent the space at a very, very reasonable rate so that we can offer this to the community,” said Pinson.
The building’s location makes it the perfect addition to a night on the town, observed McKeller-Smith.
“It’s smack dab in the middle of downtown Fayetteville. You have restaurants and other activities that you can do to kind of complete a night, and there is so much to do within walking distance.”
Pinson envisions a wide variety of events in the space as awareness grows.
He hopes the space is a launching point for individual artists and arts organizations, comparing its purpose to job searching for the first time.
“It’s like when you are looking for your first job, and you're told, ‘Come back when you get some experience,’ and you think, ‘How am I ever going to get experience unless someone takes a chance on me?’ That’s what this building is going to provide: a place for people to get up in front of an audience and try it. Maybe they succeed, maybe they fail, but you’re giving them the opportunity and opportunity leads to open doors.”
Attend ArtsXL’s grand opening on Feb. 5 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.