Arts and Culture Committee

Overview

The Committee for Arts and Culture works with the Board of Commissioners to promote, support, and expand the town’s artistic and cultural resources while integrating arts and culture into community life. Its key objectives include:

To preserve and enrich the character of the community
To celebrate cultural history and heritage
To broaden the role of the arts in the community
To foster artistic creativity
To encourage development of Nags Head as a destination for arts and culture
To demonstrate the significant enhancement to quality of life that public art and cultural offerings can have within the community
To use art as a means to foster the community’s sense of spirit, pride and values
To exhibit a range of all aspects of art and cultural activities including visual arts, performing arts, history, and social activities
To advocate for the role and value of arts and culture in civic life
To promote greater public participation in, and access to, arts and culture

Activities

The Committee’s work may involve the following activities:

To provide suggestions to the town staff to support public art projects, cultural activities, and events
To work with the town manager and staff to plan and program budgeted activities
To work as an independent group with authority to solicit proposals from local artists to design and construct public art projects within the town using budgeted funds, grant funding, or other donations provided to the town
To select works of art to add to the town’s art collection
To work with other organizations and individuals to promote the arts and culture
To explore methods to receive grant funding, donations, or in-kind services to match budgeted funds to complete art projects or other cultural activities and events
To recommend policy, program and legislative changes to the Board of Commissioners to further the committee’s primary objectives

Meetings

The Committee meets the second Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. in the Nags Head Town Hall conference room.

Minutes

Please visit the archive center to view meeting notes.

Member Criteria

The Committee will be comprised of seven individuals including one Town staff representative. Members will be selected by the Board of Commissioners through the application process and should have a background/experience that demonstrates a knowledge, education, or experience in the arts or designing and/or promoting cultural activities. Individuals should have a relationship to the community either through business ownership, property ownership, residency, or through demonstrated contribution to the town’s art and/or cultural resources. The Committee may also include representatives from selected non-profit partners or educators that support arts and culture.

Members

Ginny Flowers
Samantha Lock
Peggy Saporito
Shelli Gates
Jeremy Russell
Genevieve Stewart
Melanie LaFountaine
Kelly Wyatt - Staff Member
Paige Griffin - Staff Member

Funding

The Board of Commissioners will set the Committee's budget each year based on available funds. Town staff will work with the committee to administer funds and provide support. However, the committee’s decisions related to the expenditure of budgeted funds will be independent from the Board of Commissioners.

Terms

This is a standing committee with members appointed to three year terms. There is no limit on the number of terms a member may serve. The Committee will meet as needed with a minimum of one meeting per quarter.

Apply to Become a Committee Member

The Town always welcomes applications for positions on various boards and committees. If you are interested in helping out, there are two ways you can apply:

Online (DocuSign form) - applications will automatically be emailed to the Town Clerk's Office.

You may also contact Town Clerk Brittany Phillips at 252-449-2009 or by email for a copy of the document. Please email the completed form to the Town Clerk's Office, mail it to Town of Nags Head, PO Box 99, Nags Head, NC 27959, or drop it off at Town of Nags Head, 5401 South Croatan Highway.