Our mission: represent and support excellence in the Arts in Onslow County; to encourage and promote the development of the Arts in the Schools and in the community.

The CFTA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to represent and support excellence in the Arts in Onslow County; to encourage and promote the development of the Arts in the Schools and in the community.

We are the Designated County Partner of the North Carolina Arts Council for Onslow County, we are responsible for managing and sub-granting Grassroots Arts Program funds for local art programming. Through the Grassroots Program, local arts related groups obtain funding to bring the arts into the community.

Grassroots Art Grantees in recent year have included: Crystal Coast Choral Society, Onslow County Historical Society; Jacksonville Recreation and Parks, Council on Aging, Filipino American Society, Onslow Art Society, Georgetown High School Alumni Association, Northeast Community Development, Coastal Poetry Consortium, Onslow County Public Library, Coastal NC Bluegrass Association, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Onslow County Parks & Recreation.

The Council for the Arts is a non profit organization Founded in 1976, when Jack LeSueur, from the North Carolina Arts Council, discussed with Jean Wenner the idea of forming an arts council. Jean is a local artist and, at that time, was active in the Arts Society of Onslow County. She was chosen to as Director and began the organization as a volunteer from her home. Jean retired in 2004 after 28 years of dedicated service.

We established the Arts in the Schools Program in 1981; the purpose was and still is, to provide our county's students an opportunity to enjoy professional literary and performing artists. This program is funded by the Onslow County Commissioners.

In 1994, Earl Taylor, Onslow County Schools Art Coordinator, suggested bringing quality art to Onslow County, which eliminated the out of county travel expense Through this meeting Special Schools Performances was established. This series of performances showcase professional ballet, opera and theatre for the Onslow's Kindergarteners, 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders.

 

This article was written by The Daily News editor on the passing of Jean Wenner, former Director of the Council for the Arts. written on December 18, 2011

Jean Wenner left a legacy of beauty

Jean Wenner, who recently passed away at the age of 80, was Onslow County’s official champion of the arts. In her mission to make art accessible to every Onslow County resident, from the youngest child to the oldest senior, she did much more than simply dabble in it herself. She brought creativity and beauty to them. Wenner, who originally was active in the Arts Society of Onslow County, helped kick start the area’s first Council for the Arts back in 1976. Serving as the council’s volunteer director, Wenner helped art programs that ranged from writing workshops to art shows become established and grow. An accomplished artist herself, Wenner took the small group from its humble inception as an all-volunteer effort with a miniscule budget, to its present incarnation with headquarters on New Bridge Street. Wenner strongly believed the arts should be shared and enjoyed by young children, and that by exposing kids to the arts early, both talent and appreciation would flourish. She was instrumental in helping bring numerous art programs to the schools, ranging from theater to the award-winning Arts in the Schools program.

Wenner was also an award-winner. She brought the State Arts Council Volunteer of the Year award back to Jacksonville, and was named the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year in 1990. But awards, while nice, were certainly not her motivator. Wenner found motivation in bringing the joy of the art appreciation to others. A Marine wife, Wenner remained in Onslow County to raise the couple’s large family while he served at various duty stations. She melded seamlessly into the community to become a leading proponent of the area in general. She was one of Onslow County’s most avid cheerleaders. Wenner never faltered, nor did she fail in her objectives. The Arts Council has seen its endeavors thrive because she believed in them. Wenner, who gave so much back to her adopted home, filled Onslow County with many types of art many times over.

And that’s a beautiful legacy.