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The mission of the Stanly County Arts Council is to encourage and promote broad-based cultural and educational activities in the arts throughout Stanly County.




    Stanly County Arts Council News

    Stanfield singer/songwriter earns golden ticket on ‘American Idol’

    Story by Charles Curcio of the Stanly News and Press

    Stanfield’s Dustin Curlee took part in this season’s competition, where he earned a golden ticket to the Hollywood audition rounds.

    Curlee said the opportunity to audition for the show came when his wife, Candace, saw something on Facebook. He said he sang and played the guitar for three producers virtually on the internet.

    Stanfield singer heads to American Idol

    Story by Chris Miller of the Stanly News & Press

    Fifteen years after Albemarle’s Kellie Pickler rose to national fame on “American Idol,” a Stanfield man is hoping lightning will strike again.

    Dustin Curlee recently passed the initial online audition with producers and heads to Los Angeles October 15 to perform in front of the celebrity judges.

    Peace and Unity in Music

    A Virtual Spring Concert

    The North Stanly High School Choral Department Presents Peace and Unity in Music: A Virtual Spring Concert. The concert selections were recorded on Friday, March 26th, 2021 in the North Stanly High School Auditorium.

    View the concert by clicking the button below.

    To be a member of The Cloud Appreciation Society, you must agree that clouds are unjustly maligned and that life would be immeasurably poorer without them.

    A Wonderful Piece of Musical History in Stanly County

    Story from Stanly County History Center

    Lou Donaldson was born November 1, 1926 in Badin. He first started playing clarinet at age 9. In the early 1940’s he went to college at North Carolina A&T State University and was drafted into the Navy in 1944. It was while in the military that he began playing the alto sax.

    Philadelphia’s 100 History Makers of the 20th Century

    Story from Stanly County History Center

    Richard Watson was born in Stanly County in 1946. His mother died when he was young and his father traveled as a part of a singing group so he was initially raised by his grandparents. He and his brother attended the West Badin School for a couple of years. It was while living in Stanly County that he first showed an interest in drawing.