Gail Charles to lead Cultural and Heritage Consortium
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on March 8, 2009 9:57 AM
Today's slumping economy makes it more important than ever for area businesses and organizations to work together to serve the community and to promote tourism, Wayne County Cultural and Heritage Consortium chairman Gail Charles says.
"And the consortium is more important than ever so we can utilize what we have within the county better than ever," said Mrs. Charles, who is also interim director of the Golds-boro Parks and Recreation Department. "The economy will not allow us to travel like we normally would. A lot of people who used to go to the beach on weekends are staying home more now."
Mrs. Charles will lead a membership that includes those who bring big name entertainers to the area, reenact Civil War battles and blaze paddle trails on the river. They are educators, historians, historic site and museum managers and those who keep art galleries open to showcase local talent.
Each member represents his or her business or organization. This year, more events will be coordinated so participants can leave one event and go to another on the same day.
For example, on April 18, the Center for Environmental Farming Systems will have its Fall Festival at noon. Then, later in the afternoon, the Charles B. Aycock Birthplace will hold its 50th anniversary celebration with vintage 1863 baseball re-enactors. And then from 3 until 9 p.m., on the same day, Jazz on George will be coordinated with a car show on the same street.
There's power in the alliance, Mrs. Charles said, and the consortium makes it possible for members to do things they can't do alone. Together, they can create bigger and better ideas like a quarterly newsletter showing everything they have going on instead of 20 little ones. The consortium has 20 members who participate actively.
Some of the upcoming happenings include a Vino and Demo event at the Arts Council of Wayne County March 12 with artistic demonstrations and wine tasting from Health Habit and a Goldsboro Ballet performance at the Paramount March 15. Then on March 26, an opening and reception will be held at the Arts Council for a new exhibit of art from the Crystal Coast. The exhibit will run through April 3. And on March 28, the Daffodil Festival will be held in Fremont.
The consortium meets every quarter.