Team: Surale Phillips
The Cabarrus Arts Council, serving a largely rural county outside Charlotte, NC that has seen significant growth and changed demographics, is taking bold steps to enrich its community’s cultural landscape. Building on their 2022 strategic priority to expand and diversify programming to keep pace with public needs, the Council engaged WolfBrown to explore new opportunities in Concord, Kannapolis, and Mt. Pleasant. Under the direction of Surale Phillips, Principal at WolfBrown, the work included a county-wide survey and hosted community conversations, aiming to uncover how both historic and newly renovated venues can best serve the community. The project engaged 50 residents in three cities and four venues over three days of facilitated community conversations. Community engagement was followed by an online survey of 350 community members conducted in English and Spanish. This initiative reflects the Council’s commitment to community dialogue and its mission to weave the arts into the fabric of Cabarrus County life, promising a more vibrant and inclusive cultural future for all residents.