A Plan to Boost Arts Funding in Wake County

• A Plan to Boost Arts Funding in Wake County
• Marking North Carolina’s First Pride March
• Talking with Multi-Instrumentalist Solomon Fox
• Op-Ed: We Can’t Fix Durham’s Housing Crisis One Rezoning at a Time
• Rare Mid-Century House in Chapel Hill Saved

Good morning, readers.

Along with the state’s capital city, Raleigh is arguably North Carolina’s cultural capital as well: the NC Symphony and Carolina Ballet, the NC Museum of Art, and dozens of smaller performing and visual arts organizations are located here. The City of Oaks is also home to arts and cultural events and festivals year-round. 

So it may seem surprising that, comparatively, Wake County spends less on the arts—much less, at 41¢ per person—than peer counties such as Orange and Mecklenburg and others. 

To try and address this disparity and provide a more sustainable ecosystem for the arts and artists across a county that’s home to 12 different municipalities, county arts leaders submitted a cultural master plan with recommendations to county commissioners earlier this month. 

And while the plan has some good ideas and offers ways to pay for them, leaders of smaller arts organizations say it doesn’t address one major problem they face: finding a way to pay for capital needs in a city where rents are rising, buildings are aging, and maintenance services are costly. 

For that, locals who care about the arts will themselves have to get creative. Read the story here and have a good weekend

—Jane

The latest from INDY, plus other stories around the state you’ll want to read. Handpicked every day by INDY Editor-in-Chief Sarah Willets.

STATE: One of the things holding up the state budget is disagreement over funding for a $3 billion children’s hospital planned in Apex. WRAL reports Republicans say Duke has plenty of its own money, citing a quarterback’s multi-million dollar pay.

STATE: Sports betting has surpassed the state lottery as the top reasons North Carolinians are calling in to the state’s Problem Gambling Helpline, NC Newsline reports.

EDUCATION: Three years after making its climate commitment, Duke University released a new report this week updating its climate goals, The Chronicle reports.

• That rare, metal mid-century home in Chapel Hill that was at risk of being demolished? Preservation NC was able to save it. More info on the home, believed to be the first Lustron home built in the Triangle, here.

• Heading to Pride: Durham, NC tomorrow? Parking and parade maps are posted here. (And if you’re not going, check out our parade livestream at indyweek.com).

• Looks like Sylvan Esso made a surprise appearance at this week’s Tune-Yards show at Cat’s Cradle.

• WUNC profiled the three hosts who are finalists for our Best of the Triangle award for best trivia night in Orange or Chatham counties.

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