The Town of Leland Parks and Recreation Department has received a 2019 Arts & Humanities Award from the N.C. Recreation and Parks Association for its involvement in The Black on Black Project.
Earlier this year, the Leland Cultural Arts Center (LCAC) hosted a month of programming through the Raleigh-based project, which aims to showcase the work of artists of color and to encourage dialogue amongst diverse members of the community.
Through a grant from the N.C. Arts Council and matching funds from the Town of Leland, the LCAC presented a month of programming and events from March 28 to April 25 centered around The Black on Black Project, including an art exhibition, a screening of the documentary, “Wilmington on Fire,” and public discussions, as well as outreach to area students at local schools and with a Spring Break Art Camp.
For Cultural Arts Manager Julianne Scott, the goal of bringing The Black on Black Project to Leland was two-fold: to encourage artists of all backgrounds to apply for art exhibitions at the LCAC and to diversify the center’s audience.
“We have had more involvement by people of color in our programs since hosting the project and we hope that continues,” Scott said. “We plan to continue working with the local schools and continuing to reach out to our community with our sincere message of inclusion and our desire to encourage more diversity.”
Wyatt Richardson, Operations Services Director for the Town of Leland, said the N.C. Recreation and Parks Association award symbolizes the importance of those efforts.
“What this award shows is that striving for inclusion and diversity at all times is essential. The arts are for everyone, and we want to do everything we can to bring programming like The Black on Black Project to our area,” Richardson said.
More information about The Black on Black Project is available on their website. For more information about the award, contact Wyatt Richardson, Operations Services Director, (910) 332-4651 or wrichardson@townofleland.com.