Arts Carolina to Be Renewed for Another Semester

And officials at Arts Carolina and the College of Arts and Sciences said they hope a positive evaluation of Arts Carolina published this week will help the program secure permanent funding -- possibly through an increase in student fees.

"Everything is very hopeful right now," said Amy Brannock, director of Arts Carolina. "We're definitely going to be here for the rest of the school year."

Arts Carolina was established in 1999 through funding from a variety of UNC departments as an initiative to centrally organize and publicize arts events at UNC.

The initiative called for Arts Carolina to be evaluated by a committee before the end of its pilot period. That evaluation, released in a report Tuesday, strongly advocates continued funding for the program.

"The Arts Carolina evaluation committee recommends in the strongest possible terms that Arts Carolina not only be continued, but that it receive reliable, permanent and, when possible, increased funding, primarily from central University sources," the report states.

Darryl Gless, senior associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences and chairman of the committee, said he will present the report to UNC administrators during the next couple weeks with the intention of securing permanent funding for Arts Carolina.

Brannock said the funds could come through an increase in student fees to the College of Arts and Sciences.

She said the college has made a request for a student fee increase, part of which would go to funding Arts Carolina.

"The long-term hope is that we will be supported by student fees," Brannock said.

Brannock said temporary funding provided by the College of Arts and Sciences will enable Arts Carolina to function normally next semester.

But Brannock said Arts Carolina would need $140,000 -- roughly $5.60 per student -- in annual fees to permanently operate at its current level.

Brannock said a fee increase of about $8 per student would allow Arts Carolina to introduce more public art on campus and establish a physical presence on Franklin Street and in the proposed Arts Commons area approved by the Board of Trustees last month.

The evaluation committee's report praised Arts Carolina for its efforts coordinating an arts memorial following the Sept. 11 attacks. But Brannock said a $10 per student increase is needed for Arts Carolina to continue organizing such participatory events for the university community.

Gless would not comment on any specific funding sources but said he hopes to secure for Arts Carolina an increase from its previous funding.

"What I'm hoping for is a little more money for the program -- something to provide more stability," Gless said. "Arts Carolina does extremely well on what it received from its original grant, but it could use a little more."

The Arts & Entertainment Editor can be reached at artsdesk@unc.edu.