On October 11 Dare County Arts Council closed for the evening thinking the Outer Banks had avoided Hurricane Michael, but in the early hours of October 12 the storm regained strength and the winds switched, pushing the Pamlico Sound into the streets of downtown Manteo and under the doors into Dare County Arts Council’s Gallery.
Water soaked the carpets, which were torn out immediately to avoid further damage to the historic courthouse that houses DCAC’s Gallery.
Due to the flooding, Dare County Arts Council’s Gallery is closed until further notice, unable to sell artwork, which equates to the nonprofit’s main source of revenue coming to a halt.
“We are down, but we are certainly not out,” said Dare County Arts Council’s Executive Director Chris Sawin. “Because of all the help we received from our wonderful community right after the storm, all of the art is safe and the Gallery is clear, clean and dry. Right now we are focusing all of our energy into getting new carpet installed and the final preparations for our Bayou Ball, which is just over a week away. The silver lining in all of this is that the Bayou Ball is our annual fundraiser, which is a great opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate the arts while helping us get back on our feet.”
The Bayou Ball will be held on Saturday, October 27 at Pirate’s Cove Pavilion in Manteo from 7pm-12am.
Bayou Ball tickets include a live performance by two-time Grammy Award winning musician Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience, a delicious Creole-Cajun dinner by Black Pelican Seafood Company, and an open bar.
Tickets to the Bayou Ball are $125 per person and are available online at DareArts.org/bayouball or over the phone by calling DCAC at 252 473 5558. Guests are also able to reserve tables of eight for $1,500. Seating is limited, and Dare County Arts Council expects this event to sell out.
Bayou Ball guests will have the opportunity to support Dare County Arts Council at the event’s silent and live auctions, which will feature fine art and exclusive packages from local artists and businesses. Auctioneer Corey Taylor will be seeking bids for some of the most sought after items.
“This is an incredible fundraising event that only lasts for one night but, through sponsorships, ticket sales and proceeds from the silent and live auctions along with direct donations, the Bayou Ball provides the primary funding for artistic events for the upcoming year for all of Dare County and our visitors,” said Dare County Arts Council Treasurer and Bayou Ball Event Chair Marsha Griffith.
As Dare County Arts Council’s only major fundraiser of the year, the Bayou Ball enables the nonprofit organization to fulfill their mission and bring unique programs to Dare County, like Terrance Simien’s Creole for Kidz and the History of Zydeco, which is coming to Dare County schools October 24-26.
Simien’s residency will help Dare County students foster a love of American roots music and provide educational tools for them to think critically about music performance. For the full schedule of the Creole for Kidz! residency, please visit DareArts.org/creoleforkidz.
A special thank you to Bayou Ball sponsors TowneBank, Mollie A. Fearing & Associates, SAGA Realty & Construction, Davco Electric and PNC Bank. Thank you to civic partners The Don and Catharine Bryan Cultural Series, The Outer Banks Community Foundation, Dare County Schools, Dare Education Foundation, Outer Banks Hospital, North Banks Rotary, Outer Banks Relief Foundation, Mustang Outreach Program, Camp-Younts Foundation, North Carolina Arts Council, SouthArts, and the National Endowment for the Arts for sponsoring the Creole for Kidz and the History of Zydeco music residency.
For more information about Creole for Kidz! or the Bayou Ball, please call Dare County Arts Council at 252 473 5558 or click here.