Cultural Activities

Cultural Activities

Cultural Activities – Key Factor Summary

• Prior to the creation of the N.C. School of the Arts, ECU was considered the State School of the Arts, and is still nationally recognized for its curricula.
• The Pitt-Greenville and Farmville Arts Councils, along with East Carolina University, present literally hundreds of events throughout the year.
• Events at ECU are presented as part of two major series: Playhouse Production Series, and Performing Arts Series.
• Events include chamber groups, major symphonies, touring Broadway shows, opera, and ballet.
• University academic departments offer a number of highly specialized visual and performing arts opportunities.
• Opportunities for personal involvement are available through community bands, orchestras, theatre, dance and vocal groups, and writers and artists guilds.
• Eight art galleries/museums are located in Pitt County.
• A number of nationally known poets and artists reside in the area.
• Pitt County and East Carolina University provide extensive library systems both in terms of number of volumes for specialized research and programs for children and adults.
• The library systems offer a Health Sciences Library, Music Library, Manuscripts Collection, Rare Books Collection, a special Children’s Library, and a number of other specialized components.
• Both county and university libraries have media centers offering microfiche and microfilm collections and readers, computers and software, CD and DVD players, and a variety of commonly used audio-visual items.
• Pitt County’s Sheppard Library offers story hours for toddlers and pre-schoolers, a school visitation program for kindergartners and elementary school children, and “Popcorn Theatre” for grades 4-7. Sheppard and its branches provide homework services for all grade levels, a summer reading program, and a number of adult literary programs.

The cultural climate of Pitt County is unsurpassed in Eastern North Carolina, providing the proper environment to nurture the artist as well as to satisfy the desires of the art lover. Everything from old fashioned cloggers to ballet, from jazz ensembles to symphony orchestras, and side walk art shows to fine art exhibits are available throughout the year. The abundance of cultural events is largely attributable to the activities and presence of the Schools of Art and Music at East Carolina University.

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