UNCSA raises $25K for Hurricane Helene relief in western North Carolina

UNCSA has raised more than $25,000 from ticket sales and donations to the Piedmont Triad Chapter of the American Red Cross in support of relief efforts following the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene on western North Carolina. Following the hurricane, UNCSA announced that it would donate 100% of proceeds from ticket sales for performances from Sept. 26 through Oct. 31 to the Red Cross.

As the area recovers, UNCSA and the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts are also working closely with community organizations to continue to help support the future economic recovery of the region through partnerships and advocacy efforts to ensure the reestablishment of the thriving community of artists who reside there.

Chamber Music Festival / Photo: Wayne Reich

“We are grateful to our dedicated audiences and community who helped us do our part for relief efforts in western N.C., while doing what we do best here at UNCSA. And as is often the case, the arts can provide a way for our community to come together,” said Chancellor Brian Cole. “The region of western N.C. is special to all of us at UNCSA not only because it is close to our home here in Winston-Salem and is an actual home to many of our alumni, faculty, staff and students; it is also home to a burgeoning community of artists who power the local economy. In the coming months and years we remain dedicated to partnering with the Kenan Institute and organizations that can help us support the recovery of the creative economy that is so critical to that region, and to the state of North Carolina.”

UNCSA employees and students also donated items that were taken to the area by representatives from its Police and Public Safety Department who aided with security on the UNC Asheville campus. UNCSA opened its medical and counseling services to students from UNC Asheville who are in the Winston-Salem area and worked with the UNC System to provide key supplies for the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Morganton.

UNCSA production of "Fairview" / Photo: Luke Jamroz Photography

Revenue from ticket sales from UNCSA Presents, the university’s performance series, was collected from Sept. 26, the day Helene made landfall, through the end of October, including more than 26 performances.

Donations to the Red Cross can still be made directly at https://www.redcross.org/donate/cm/uncsa-pub.html/.

More resources can be found at uncsa.edu/wncstrong.

The North Carolina Arts Council has created a list of emergency support resources for artists & arts organizations at https://artsnc.org/arts-emergency-resources/.

For tickets and information about UNCSA Presents visit uncsa.edu/performances.

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November 12, 2024