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Dare County Arts Council has invited the community to downtown Manteo for the courtyard project’s groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, March 3 at 10 a.m.

The project will transform the yard behind the 1904 Courthouse building into a multi-functional courtyard that will enable Dare County Arts Council to expand its programming, serve additional segments of the community and showcase a broader range of creative endeavors including outdoor artwork, workshops and artist demonstrations.

“As Dare County celebrates its 150th Anniversary, we are proud to launch a major effort to improve one of our area’s most iconic buildings – the historic Dare County Courthouse in downtown Manteo,” said Dare County Arts Council’s executive director Chris Sawin. “Once completed, the courtyard will offer our community an arts space on par with other great cultural facilities in the state of North Carolina. Our hope is that Dare County Arts Council will continue to be an important cultural hub, in the heart of the beautiful Town of Manteo.”

The new courtyard, which was designed by Ben Cahoon of Cahoon + Kasten Architects, will feature innovative and versatile concepts including a pergola for shade and displaying artwork, permanent seating, infrastructure for natural and kinetic works, improved lighting and an accessible ramp to Dare County Arts Council’s Gallery.

“It’s rare, and really wonderful, to have a client like the Arts Council,” said architect Cahoon. “They set high standards for making the space multi-functional, combined with expressing artistic values in the design. I look forward to all of the cool ways they will find to utilize it!”

Immediately following the ceremony, a reception and open house will be held inside Dare County Arts Council building, where members of the community can learn more about the project and enjoy light refreshments.

The ceremony and reception are free and open to the public.

Dare County Arts Council’s courtyard is expected to open in the fall of 2020.

For more information about this project or to make a donation toward the courtyard, contact Dare County Arts Council at 252-473-5558 or visit DareArts.org/courtyardproject.

Thanks were extended to the Percy W. & Elizabeth G. Meekins Charitable Trust, Dare County Tourism Board, Outer Banks Community Foundation, The Cannon Foundation, The Camp-Younts Foundation, Dominion Energy, Southern Bank Foundation, Lowe’s, Walmart Giving, Ace Hardware, The McLaughlin Family Charitable Fund and community donors for supporting this project.

This project is funded in part by the Dare County Tourism Board.

Dare County Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization dedicated to encouraging the arts in Dare County through advocacy, enrichment and opportunity.

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