The Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts builds partnerships to support creative projects, many of which are associated with the North Carolina School of the Arts.  As a progressive, thoughtful and broadly capable advocate of the arts and for artists, we believe that innovative and imaginative endeavors - especially those that challenge what is expected, daring to be unconventional in direction - can invigorate and advance the artistic energies of a society in ways that benefit everyone.

LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

The Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts is reveling in its successes over the past two years.  We are firmly associated with our host institution, the North Carolina School of the Arts.  We have a proven track record of innovative and daring programs documented in our biennial report.  And we are increasingly known for our leadership within our local, regional and national networks of artists and arts organizations.

We have reached thousands of people through our productions:  the children, teachers and parents who experienced Open Dream Ensemble; those people who entered the realm of Japanese theatre through the world premiere of Pine Barrens and Theatre Nohgaku; the audiences who listened to the authors in our Kenan Writers' Encounters; the enthusiasts of early music who have heard the amazing concerts of the Magnolia Baroque Festival; the young artists emerging from NCSA who have made their next professional steps through the William R. Kenan, Jr. Performing Arts Fellowships.

Expect us to invite you to work alongside us over the coming months, as we build our next projects and initiatives.  Our thoughtful and proactive Board of Advisors continues to encourage us to think in bold and broad strokes, taking our work to increasingly visible external locations and constituencies across the country, while maintaining our local identity and presence.  We continue to look to our funders - primarily the William R. Kenan, Jr. Fund for the Arts - but also to individual contributors, corporations, foundations and other arts organizations to increase our partnerships and opportunities on a national level.

As always, we are looking toward the future.  Our flexibility and our experience require us to think forward continually, actively embracing the risks we take with great courage and a light touch.  We look forward to your participation in our work - the arts are about collaboration, and more creative thinking catalyzes our potential impact into ever-expanding work.

The Chancellor of the North Carolina School of the Arts serves as the Chair of the Kenan Board of Advisors.  The remaining advisors are carefully chosen to contribute a wide range of artistic and philanthrophic expertise to the work of the Institute.  The Institute's permanent staff and project directors carry a wide range of expertise and experience into the development and realization of the Institute's projects.