How Do We Plan to Become Sustainable?

In the past, Strike at the Wind! has been sustained as a community theater production with entirely local support. The Lumbee people have given generously of their own time, energy, and money to keep the drama afloat. But sadly, the drama closed after the 2003 season due to a lack of funds. The Carolina Arts Network’s Board of Directors and Advisory Board have dedicated themselves to seeing the drama continue. We plan to work with consultants and experts to develop a short- and long-range plan for organizational and professional development. We have already secured a portion of this support from Harvard University, where the Faculty of Arts and Sciences recognizes the value of this project as a replicable model for other Native communities interested in developing heritage tourism. Fulfilling our marketing goals will be assisted by continuing to develop philanthropy in our local community—for example, this summer we are holding an art auction and dinner as a fundraising event. Finally, we hope to achieve our facilities refurbishment needs with grants or loans from private foundations, corporations, and government agencies. Our local Representative Ron Sutton, for example, has already submitted a bill on Strike at the Wind’s! behalf which will, if funded, cover a portion of these costs. We would appreciate your support for this bill.

The impact of your sponsorship will be seen for years to come, as we evaluate our successes by growing attendance at the drama. The Institute of Outdoor Drama estimates that our audience will grow by 75% between 2006 and 2011, from 19,000 people to 35,000 people, provided we have solid leadership, a sophisticated marketing campaign, and a quality production. Your sponsorship will undoubtedly launch our growth in this direction, and as interest in North Carolina as a tourist destination grows, we expect our audience to increase, not diminish.

True sustainability will come from stronger attendance at our drama. We plan to decrease our reliance on grant funds and contributions—we can cover nearly all of our annual expenses with ticket revenues if attendance at the drama continues to increase. A sophisticated marketing campaign and a positive experience for visitors will draw tens of thousands of people to our area every year.

We are fortunate to have so much support for our efforts to use arts and culture as an economic development tool. The Carolina Arts Network will be a cultural, artistic, economic, and educational resource for North Carolina and for the nation.

To make a tax-deductible donation, please write your check to:

Carolina Arts Network, Inc.

PO Box 1350

Pembroke, NC 28372