WS Chronicle

 Special to the Chronicle

The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County has launched its 2016 Annual Campaign and publicly introduced its two co-chairs. Leading the campaign this year will be prominent local civic leaders, Marybeth Wallace, special assistant to President Nathan Hatch at Wake Forest University, and Leslie Hayes, Executive Vice President at Wells Fargo & Company and Business Banking Division Manager for the Carolinas.

“Both Marybeth and Leslie have amazing records of service to nonprofits in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, “ said Jim Sparrow, President and CEO of The Arts Council, “and we are so very fortunate that they have agreed to jointly chair and provide leadership to our 2016 campaign.”

The theme for The Arts Council campaign is “Join the table 2016” and it will be emphasizing its outreach efforts, inclusiveness, and the ways in which people can get directly involved with the arts community.  It chose Krankies for its launch party.  “2016 is going to be a high energy year for The Arts Council with a campaign that  offers new ways for donors to direct their dollars and see direct results,“ said Sparrow, “so Krankies, with  its reputation for being on the cutting edge of arts and innovation, seemed like a perfect venue.”

Hayes serves on the board of directors for the United Way of Forsyth County, Meredith College, the YMCA of Northwest N.C., the Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem, the Independent College Fund of North Carolina, and the Piedmont Triad Partnership. She also served on the 2010 and 2011 campaign cabinets for The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.  She leads a team of over 320 bankers across North and South Carolina and is responsible for executing strategies to support and meet the financial needs of companies with revenues from $2 million to $20 million. She is also responsible for the bank’s community involvement activities in the Triad.

Wallace has been a member of the Arts Council Board since 2008 and has served as secretary to its Executive Board and on the search committee for the current President and CEO of The Arts Council. She and her husband, McLain, co- chaired The Arts Council’s Renaissance Society in 2012-13. A graduate of Wake Forest with an advanced degree in English from the University of Virginia, Wallace taught English at W.G. Enloe Arts Magnet, then wrote for and taught at North Carolina Wesleyan College, where she held several positions, including College Editor, Director of Community and Foundation Relations, and Director of the North Carolina Wesleyan College Press.

“The arts community here is amazingly diverse and opportunities abound for participation,” said Catherine Heitz New, Vice President of Development.  “As we conduct our annual campaign this year, we want to make sure people know about those opportunities and take a seat at the table.  The “Join the table” theme will run throughout the year, appearing literally in events such as our kickoff, as well as metaphorically as we spread the word on how people can become actively engaged in our arts community.”

The Arts Council also announced eight new members for its Board of Trustees, including some who are returning to the board after having previously rendered distinguished service.

They are the following:

Carl Forsman, Dean of the School of Drama, UNCSA

Adriana Granados, Founder of Design Edge and PixGift and professor of Interior Design at Forsyth Tech and Salem College

Dana Caudill Jones, President, Caudill’s Communication and Electric Company, and Chair of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education

Cheryl Lindsay, Director of Human Resources & Inclusion/Diversity, Hanesbrands

Melinda McConnell, Community Volunteer and co-chair 2013 Arts Council campaign

Michael Moore, Chief Marketing Officer, Lowes Foods

Silvia Rodriguez, Certified Public Accountant, community volunteer and arts advocate

Corey Walker, Dean of the College and the John W. and Anna Hodgin Hanes Professor of the Humanities, Winston-Salem State University

The Arts Council made more than $1.8 million in grant awards in its 2015-2016 cycle.  Thirty-eight different organizations (some in more than one category) and 16 individuals received grants.

Winston-Salem and Forsyth County’s robust arts community enriches the lives of area residents every day and accounts in large part for the recognition we continue to receive as a great place to live, learn, work and play.  The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County raises funds and advocates for the arts, sponsors events in conjunction with other arts organizations, promotes and funds arts education, creates cultural and learning opportunities, develops social capital and aids economic development.