The arts affect the quality of life in our community. Your membership makes it possible for TRAC to offer a broad spectrum of arts education, entertainment, and services to Mitchell and Yancey Counties.Working through the Mitchell-Yancey Partnership for Children, we have provided arts programming for our local preschool populations.In our Schools Programs, we have affected some 5,000 students in these two counties by providing art residencies and school performances to all 17 of our public schools.

Please print our our Membership Application, or contact one of our offices to request a membership form or send an e-mail to us with the subject line “Membership Application Request.” We thank you in advance for your support!

Meet the TRAC "Doubles Challenge"

Have you ever thought of your arts council as a double organization? 

TRAC is in fact the only arts council in North Carolina that serves two counties, and it is recognized by the North Carolina Arts Council as a model that could be replicated in other rural areas of the state.  For 32 years it has been playing doubles – programs for students in two school systems, services for and winter/spring tours to artists in Mitchell and Yancey counties, entertainment and community-wide festivals at locations in the north, south, and center of each county.  Since 2005 TRAC has maintained two gallery and sales spaces, each in highly visible store-fronts – Oak Avenue (Upper Street) in Spruce Pine and West Main in Burnsville – making it a prominent player in the economy of both towns.

Here are some more facts to chew on. Ten employees keep the organization on track; six of them do not cost the organization anything.  They are seniors who are paid through the Seniors-In Communities Program.  Three of the remaining employees are part-time; only the director Denise Cook is full time.  TRAC has stretched to provide facilities, programs and services to you and to become more visible through the building being purchased in Spruce Pine and the building being rented in Burnsville.  In the past three years TRAC has doubled its presence and in turn your pleasure and fun.

Now we have a bold question for you.  Will you double your membership to TRAC this year?   You will not receive the usual year-end appeal letter from TRAC.  Instead, look for a mailing telling you about the doubles challenge and drawing.  If you’ve already given in 2008, we’ll tell you what you gave and ask if you can double it before December 31.  If your renewal is coming up, we’ll ask you to consider doubling  the amount you last gave.  The goal is to raise $25,000 by December 31 and double that by June 30, 2009.  These amounts are over and above the budgeted annual membership dues.

In return, you’ll become a member of the TRAC Doubles Team at the 32nd annual meeting in January and your name will be entered in a drawing for prizes.  Already potters Courtney Martin and Michael Kline and glass artist John Geci have committed pieces for the drawing (see images to the left).  You don’t have to be artistic or athletic to join the TRAC Doubles Team.

TRAC gives you the members double the opportunities to learn about, appreciate, participate in and enjoy the arts.  We’re constantly improving our services to the community, stretching to meet the needs of a diverse, multi-talented region.  Last year over 25,000 people visited our galleries and 5,000 students benefited from arts programming in the schools.  TRAC provides a wealth of interesting, fun and educational programming throughout the year, but it is a logistical nightmare to accomplish so much in two buildings, two towns, and two counties on such a spare budget.  To continue the stellar programming, exhibitions, and services you’ve come to expect from TRAC, we hope you’ll chew on the doubles challenge and give TRAC a wad before December 31!