Belly dancing and ballet; tarot reading and beer tasting; painting and sculpture; literature film festivals and poetry readings; theater ensembles and singing orchestras; rock groups and jazz trios.
Yes, Guilford celebrates the year of the arts this year, but those events aren’t from a Guilford activity list. They’re from the last two ArtsAlive! events, which took place at over 23 private and public areas in downtown Greensboro on Sept. 19 and Oct. 17.
For those who missed them, there’s another slated for Friday Nov. 21 as well as three more the third Fridays of March, April and May.
“I don’t think many people even know what goes on at Guilford, never mind what happens in Greensboro,” said Guilford senior Sarah Weiser. “The only way I know about anything that happens in Greensboro is by working for the United Arts Council.”
There’s plenty going on. The schedule for the ArtsAlive! on Friday, Nov. 21, currently includes acts from Chapel Hill rock group “Permanent Darling” and improv. group “Comedy Solid.”
Rock or improv. not your thing? Try looking at the sculpture made from pieces of the World Trade Center, some Christian Hip Hop, the Jazz club or New Age events at the “Two Art Chicks” club. Perhaps take in a wine tasting and then “The Wizard of Oz” at the Carolina Theater.
According to organizer Allen McDavid, ArtsAlive! was designed in part to attract some of the over 30,000 college students in the Greensboro area.
“There happens to be a number of views of how to stop young, creative people from fleeing the city,” said McDavid. “I think this is a great way to do that.”
To this end, most of the events at ArtsAlive! are completely free.
ArtsAlive! even includes free trolley rides around downtown. Venues at the last event varied from the Triad stage and Native American Art Gallery, to Barry Shoemaker Interiors and the Solaria Tapis Bar. The performances take place inside, so that inclement weather will not get in the way. In addition to the art locations, downtown shops stay open as well for both shopping and browsing.
The shops staying open helps reflect one of the other goals of ArtsAlive!: to boost downtown Greensboro’s economy by showing off the many entertainment and shopping opportunities available.
“While [people] are here, they can discover what really goes on down- here on a daily basis – that there are places to live, places to shop, that it’s safe and the parking garages are convenient,” said Cathy Kelly of Mack and Mack clothing to the News & Record.
The enhanced business goal fits with the overall goal of the partial financiers for ArtsAlive!, the Greensboro Center City Marketing Alliance (GCCMA). GCCMA, a group of 40 Greensboro merchants and businesses, exists to both preserve Greensboro’s past and invest in its future.
ArtsAlive! promotes the myriad independent artists in Greensboro, many of whom are college age or only a little older, who donate their time to the events at no charge.
“We have a subliminal goal, or at least I do, to expose a mainstream audience to things that are outside of their experience,” said McDavid.
“This is exactly what I and a few of my friends are trying to get to happen more often,” said dancer Camille DeSantis to the News&Record after performing in Sept. “There is a lot of great talent, and they need to show their work on a much more regular basis.”
Attending now might also ensure that more activities are available in Greensboro in the future.