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Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts (Photo courtesy of Brownie Harris)
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Wilmington has been ranked as one of the 100 Best Small Art Towns in America. The proof of our vibrant arts community can be viewed virtually everywhere one travels: on the walls of local eateries and coffee houses, in the large selection of commercial art galleries, at arts and crafts fairs, and in the numerous community theatre companies that put on shows year round. Stroll through downtown Wilmington on a week night or weekend and you’ll see and hear theatre coming from traditional venues, such as historic Thalian Hall, and some less likely places: underground bars, the public radio station and outdoor courtyards.
Performing Arts
Thalian Center
Thalian Center, previously known as Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts, opened in 1858. It is downtown’s centerpiece for plays, musicals, concerts and dance. Once the stage where locals flocked to see such greats as Lillian Russell and John Philip Sousa, visitors still enjoy touring concerts and productions from around the world, as well as high quality local theatre.
Tours of the theatre are available. Call for tickets: 910-343-3664 / 800-523-2820 or visit www.thalianhall.com.
Kenan Auditorium
The Sarah Graham Kenan Memorial Auditorium on the campus of UNCW is home to the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra. Kenan also holds student theatre, hosts touring acts from around the world, and performances by local musicians. Call for tickets: 910-962-3500 or 800-732-3643; www.uncw.edu/kenan.
Community Arts Center
The Community Arts Center is one of the last remaining USO buildings from World War II. The Arts Center hosts theatre companies and features hands-on classes in pottery, painting, yoga, and more. The center also presents performance productions, festivals and events. Phone: 910-341-7860.
Visual Arts
In Wilmington alone, there are dozens of art galleries and spaces where visual art is regularly displayed. The entire region is populated by an astonishing numbers of professional painters, illustrators, potters, paper makers, collagists, printmakers, metalsmiths, sculptors, woodcarvers, weavers, basketmakers, and craftspeople.
The pinnacle of visual arts display is the Louise Wells Cameron Art Museum, located at the intersection of Independence Blvd. and 17th Street Extension. The museum houses the largest collection of North Carolina art. This 45,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility–designed by noted Guggenheim-addition architect Charles Gwathmey—features North Carolina and American art from the 18th century to the present, and includes a sculpture garden, café and expansive museum gift shop.
Culture
Cape Fear Museum
The overall cultural heritage of the Greater Wilmington area is preserved and displayed in the Cape Fear Museum on Market Street. Established in 1898 as the New Hanover County Museum, it was dramatically renovated in 1992. The museum is laid out to guide the visitor from pre-colonization days to the present, pausing to showcase important historical events along the way, and also features quality, traveling exhibitions.
The museum also displays interesting local artifacts, such as basketball star Michael Jordan’s high school uniform, as well as the Michael Jordan Discovery Gallery, an interactive natural history exhibit for the entire family. 798-4370.
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Greater Wilmington Arts & Cultural Alliance (regional arts council)
www.gwaca.org
Creative Wilmington (arts and cultural calendar of events)
www.creativewilmington.com
Alliance for the Regional Concert Hall
815-1043
Associated Artists of Southport
278-5562
Big Dawg Productions
686-0097
Cape Fear Jazz Appreciation Society
392-1200
Cape Fear Shakespeare
392-3335
Chamber Music Wilmington
343-1079
Community Arts Center
341-7860
Girls Choir of Wilmington
799-5073
Louise Wells Cameron Art Museum
395-5999
North Carolina Symphony
791-3343
Oleander Chamber Orchestra
452-7325
Opera House Theatre Company
762-4234
Racine Center for the Arts
452-2073
School of Learning Arts
798-1700
Thalian Association
251-1788
Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts
343-3664
UNCW Department of Art and Theater
962-3440
UNCW Kenan Auditorium
962-3500
Wilmington Boys Choir
799-5073
Wilmington Choral Society
458-5164
Wilmington Concert Association
791-7118
Wilmington School of Ballet
794-9590
Wilmington Symphony Orchestra
791-9262
Wilmington Youth Orchestra
791-9261
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