Society & Culture
Galas, patrons and the cultural life of North Carolina.
The Gala Season That Sustains Carolina Culture
Behind the gowns and the auction paddles lies a serious civic engine. Inside the philanthropic circuit that keeps the state's cultural institutions alive.
A Bold Expansion Signals Carolina's Contemporary-Art Ambitions
With a major new wing and an aggressive acquisition strategy, one of the state's leading museums is staking a claim to national relevance.
The Festival Putting Southern Letters Center Stage
Each autumn, a mountain literary festival draws celebrated writers and devoted readers, affirming the enduring vitality of the Southern literary tradition.
Honoring the Carolina Roots of American Jazz
The state produced giants of the genre, and a renewed effort is underway to celebrate that heritage through festivals, education and preservation.
The Small Opera Company Punching Far Above Its Weight
Through inventive staging and a commitment to accessibility, a Carolina opera company is drawing new audiences to an art form often declared dead.
The Keepers of Carolina Folk Art
From face jugs to quilts, the state's folk-art traditions endure in the hands of makers determined to pass them on.
Durham's Black Cultural Institutions Write Their Next Chapter
Building on a proud and painful history, the city's Black cultural organizations are securing their legacy for a new generation.
The Film Festival Championing Independent Southern Cinema
A growing festival has become an essential showcase for independent filmmakers telling Southern stories on their own terms.
The Philanthropists Cultivating Carolina's Great Gardens
Behind the state's celebrated botanical gardens stands a network of donors who see horticulture as a public good worth sustaining.
The Debutante Tradition Adapts to a New Carolina
Once a rigid rite of Southern high society, the debutante season is quietly evolving, balancing heritage with the values of a changing generation.
Inside the Carolina Wine Society's Rarefied World
A community of serious collectors and connoisseurs has built a sophisticated wine culture in the state, complete with cellars to rival any in the country.
The Restored Theaters Bringing Life Back Downtown
Across the state, historic theaters saved from demolition are anchoring downtown revivals and reclaiming their role at the center of civic life.