The Arts and History Converge in Wilmington: Free Artist Workshops for Youth and Adults

Discover where the arts and history converge in Wilmington.

DREAMS and America’s Hallowed Ground invite you to a day of free artist workshops to explore the 1898 Wilmington coup and create art that brings greater awareness and understanding of this pivotal event in our city.

Some of North Carolina’s most notable artists, musicians, dancers and writers will lead these free workshops that offer something for everyone. Our programs are available for youth (12+) and adults.

Free Artist Workshops

Participants can choose two workshops from the following list.

Jaki Shelton Green
North Carolina Poet Laureate

“Exploring Our Human Museums,” examines the things we keep and keep us. Participants can bring photos, heirlooms, or stories that hold meaning for them as the basis for writing exercises.

Laurelyn Dossett
North Carolina Songwriting Fellow

Build a practical tool kit for enhancing and emboldening your songwriting – no matter the genre – whether you’ve ever written a song or not.

Cornelio Campos
North Carolina Heritage Award-winning muralist

Working as a group, participants will represent their collective ideas about Wilmington 1898 – from brainstorming to the canvas – creating a mural for display at DREAMS and perhaps beyond.

Aya Shabu
Movement Artist and Storyteller

This workshop will focus on community building through individual and collective mapping of personal histories, story exchanges, and performance.

Howard Craft
Playwright

Create original monologues from the perspective of fictional characters who have witnessed and/or participated in the events of the 1898 Wilmington Massacre.

Michael Betts II
Assistant Professor UNC-Wilmington and Sound Designer
John Biewen
Peabody-nominated Host and Producer of Scene on Radio

Are you an aspiring podcaster or collector of human stories? In this brief intensive workshop, Betts and Biewen will discuss best practices when recording or asking questions and offer ways to make your collaborators feel safe – all with your cellphone.

For more detailed information regarding each free workshop and to register for this event, please visit the links below or call (910) 772-1501. Space is limited! Register soon!

For ages 12–17, register here.

For ages 18+, register here.

Resources

Workshop Info Sheet (pdf)

Suggested Background Materials on the 1898 Wilmington Coup and Massacre (for ages 12–17) (pdf)

Suggested Background Materials on the 1898 Wilmington Coup and Massacre (for ages 18+) (pdf)