Created to foster a community that appreciates the art of film, the Outer Banks Film Society’s fourth season will begin in September with a full slate of independent films, movie classics, documentaries, shorts, and world cinema. Films will be screened on select Tuesdays at Dare Arts in Manteo, unless otherwise specified. Doors will open at 6:00pm and films will start at 6:15pm. Outer Banks Film Society curator Gaye Morris has spent the last few months coordinating a uni

Coming off our 50th anniversary year, we find ourselves asking, "What's next for Dare Arts?" That's where you come in! Please consider taking 3-5 minutes to participate in a community arts survey for Dare Arts. As we develop our strategic plan, your feedback is essential to help us better understand the needs, priorities, and opportunities within the communities we serve. The insights gathered through this survey will help guide Dare Arts' vision, programs, partnerships, an

The Dare Arts Gallery during First Friday in downtown Manteo. Photo courtesy of Casey Robertson. Five different art exhibitions, a couple of First Friday performances, an open mic night, an outdoor fiber installation, eight kids art classes, a film screening, and multiple workshops are just a few of Dare Arts’ offerings for residents and visitors this summer. “Our summer season reflects Dare Arts' commitment to making the arts interesting, diverse, and accessible to everyo

L-R- Dare Arts Program Director Meredith Timberlake and 2026 Artrageous Youth Scholarship recipient Sabra Dawson at the 37th Annual Artrageous Kids Art Festival. Photo courtesy of Tatum Clements. Over 1,000 children and adults gathered at Dowdy Park on Saturday, May 9 for the 37th Annual Artrageous Kids Art Festival presented by PNC Bank. In between a lively performance by the Mustang Music Outreach Program students and an outstanding production by Charlotte Cirque & Dance

The Fearing Family at the 29th Annual Mollie Fearing Memorial Art Show opening reception. Founded by Mollie A. Fearing & Associates Over 120 people gathered at Dare Arts in Manteo on Sunday, May 3 for the opening of the 29th Annual Mollie Fearing Memorial Art Show, which features 81 pieces of work by local and regional artists. Artist Carolina Coto carefully selected the following award recipients: Best In Show: Jessica Sheingold, Self Portrait and Song (oil on wood) E

A fire performance by Panda Daniels at a past Dare Arts Pride Project event. Photo courtesy of Casey Robertson. Dare Arts Pride Project will return in June with unique programming that celebrates the artistic voices of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies through performing, visual, and literary arts. On Friday, June 5 Dare Arts will host Pride Night, a joyful evening of performing arts expression, in The Courtyard starting at 6:00pm during First Friday in downtown Manteo.

Dare Arts' new Program Director Meredith Timberlake. Photo courtesy of Dare Arts. As Dare Arts continues to grow and evolve as an organization, so does the nonprofit's staff. In February, Dare Arts welcomed new Program Director Meredith Timberlake, and simultaneously Robert Rogers assumed the new position of Community Arts Coordinator. Prior to moving to the Outer Banks, Timberlake was the Executive Director of Chowan Arts Council, and she brings 20 years combined experience

The Outer Banks community is invited to attend the 37th Annual Artrageous Kids Art Festival, which will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sat., May 9 at Dowdy Park in Nags Head. Artrageous’ theme this year is Cirque Des Arts , which is inspired by the event’s featured performers, Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center from Charlotte, N.C. “We are thrilled to welcome Charlotte Cirque & Dance to the Outer Banks this year,” said Dare Arts Executive Director Jessica Sands. “Th

Two of eastern North Carolina’s leading art organizations, Dare Arts and Pocosin Arts School of Fine Craft, are collaborating to showcase a trio of Pocosin Arts residents’ work in a new exhibition at Dare Arts in Manteo in March. The group exhibition, Practicing Persistence , will feature work by Ryan Catalano (ceramics), Hannah Craft (metals), and Henry Merker (wood) who are three long-term residents at Pocosin Arts. The work included in the exhibition demonstrates the

Three Outer Banks artists were recently awarded Artist Support Grants that were made possible through a partnership between the North Carolina Arts Council, Pocosin Arts, Beaufort County Arts Council, Dare Arts, Ocracoke Alive, Pettigrew Regional Libraries, and Martin County Arts Council. A panel of artists, art professionals, and experts in various disciplines selected the three artists listed below. 2026 Artist Support Grant Recipients: · Jennifer Hyde of Mante

After a tremendously successful 50th anniversary year in 2025, Dare Arts has started 2026 with Louise Sanderlin as its new Gallery Manager. Sanderlin previously worked at the Dare Arts Gallery before moving off the Outer Banks in 2020, and has now returned to her hometown of Manteo. “Lou brings a deep familiarity and depth of knowledge to this role,” said Dare Arts Executive Director Jessica Sands. “Her understanding of the gallery, its systems, and the creative communi

Dare Arts is seeking an organized & creative self-starter to serve as our part-time Program Director. The job, entailing an average of 15-20 hours per week working at our Gallery in Manteo, at off-site events, and remotely from home, will require some nights and weekends. This is a public-facing, event-planning position that pays $16-$18 an hour based on experience. The Dare Arts Program Director reports to the Executive Director. Primary Responsibilities Include: Program

Dare Arts is now seeking entries for the 48th Annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show, which will open at their Gallery in downtown Manteo at 6:00pm on Friday, February 6, 2026. Artists wishing to participate in the show can find the prospectus and sign up for a specific time to drop off their work online at DareArts.org/frankstickshow . Writer, artist, and Dare Arts’ former Gallery Director Lynne Francis will judge the 48th Annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show. She studi

Gallery Manager Job Description Dare Arts is seeking a part-time Gallery Manager at our Manteo, NC headquarters. This person will report to the Executive Director and work side-by-side with the Artistic Director. Key responsibilities include managing the retail gallery, fostering artist relationships, and maintaining member & donor data and relations. The job would entail an average of 25 hours per week. Flexible scheduling during open gallery hours, but will require some Sat

Willow Temple and the completed mural. Willow Rea Temple is no stranger to the art world. She grew up in Manteo surrounded by the...

Best In Show: Chip Hemingway “Wanchese Harbor” (oil) Idyllic weather coupled with the Outer Banks’ pristine beaches, unique flora and...

Featuring films from all over the globe, Surfalorus has become an end-of-summer staple on the Outer Banks, bringing in filmmakers from...

Thirteen years ago Dare Arts invited North Carolina’s seventh Poet Laureate Joseph Bathanti to the Outer Banks to lead a writing workshop...

Dare Arts is bringing the Outer Banks Film Society back this fall for its third season to screen independent films, movie classics,...

On October 6, 1998, a 21-year-old gay University of Wyoming student named Matthew Shepard was brutally robbed, beaten, tortured and left...