The Arts Council Of Wilmington/NHC

Cinematique Presents: Queer
2025-02-10 19:00 - 2025-02-12 21:00 (America/New_York) | Historic Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St, Wilmington, 28401
Queer runs from Monday, February 10th to Wednesday, February 12th at the Historic Main Stage at Thalian Hall at 7 pm, with an additional screening at 4 pm on Wednesday, February 12th.
In 1950s Mexico City, an American immigrant in his late forties leads a solitary life amidst a small American community. However, the arrival of a young student stirs the man into finally establishing a meaningful connection with someone.

45th Annual North Carolina Jazz Festival
2025-02-08 19:30 - 2025-02-09 00:00, 2025-02-07 19:30 - 2025-02-08 00:00, 2025-02-06 19:30 - 2025-02-07 00:00 | Hotel Ballast Wilmington, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, 301 North Water Street, Wilmington, 28401
*Thursday Night Showcase:
Our Special Event night features different styles of jazz. This year we open with the Wilmington-based Carlos Garcia Trio, with performances dedicated to the brilliant pianist Bill Evans.
Our main event for the evening will showcase the Gregg Gelb Quartet. Gelb is an arranger, composer, and director of the award-winning Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble, which has been selected to the finals of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Competition and Festival five times.
The evening will close with some of our weekend All-Stars in a Traditional Jazz Jam.
*Friday and Saturday Nights:
We continue our celebration with 15 All-Star musicians playing in the traditional seven sets of six or seven players, each set with a different leader.
*Patron Brunch:
On Saturday from 10:30 AM until 2:00 PM we treat our patrons to a musical brunch, when our All-Star musicians play for their pleasure. The last hour will include a Jam session where patrons who are musicians can play with the All-Stars. The price for a patron ticket including the brunch is $240 for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night, and $215 for Friday and Saturday night.

A Few Good Men
2025-02-07 19:30 - 2025-02-16 14:00 | Thalian Hall Main Stage, 310 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, NC
Aaron Sorkin’s groundbreaking debut tells the story of a group of military lawyers assigned to defend two Marines in Guantanamo Bay. During the course of the trial, they uncover a high-level conspiracy designed to eliminate weaker soldiers in the name of patriotism.

Cinematique Presents: A Complete Unknown
2025-02-03 19:00 - 2025-02-07 19:00 | Historic Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St, Wilmington, 28401
A Complete Unknown runs from Monday, February 3rd to Friday, February 7th at the Ruth and Bucky Stein Theater at Thalian Hall at 7 pm, with an additional screening at 4 pm on Wednesday, February 5th.
In 1961, an unknown 19-year-old Bob Dylan arrives in New York City with his guitar and forges relationships with music icons on his meteoric rise, culminating in a groundbreaking performance that reverberates worldwide.

"The Thinking Game" screening at Jengo's Playhouse
2025-02-02 16:00 - 18:00 | Jengo’s Playhouse, 815 Princess Street, Wilmington, 28401
With its focus on Nobel Prize winning scientist Demis Hassabis, The Thinking Game takes you on a fascinating journey into the heart of DeepMind, one of the world’s leading AI labs, as it strives to unravel the mysteries of artificial general intelligence. It captures the exhilaration of historic breakthroughs like AlphaFold, the crushing weight of disappointment during setbacks, and the unwavering pursuit of knowledge and scientific innovation. This film invites viewers to witness one of the most important scientific adventures of our time, exploring the potential of AGI to reshape our world.

Two Local Artists
2025-01-30 10:00 - 2025-04-27 16:00 | The Bellamy Mansion Museum, 503 Market Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
From January 30th to April 27th, 2025, the Bellamy Mansion Museum will host the “Two Local Artists” exhibition of original artwork by BJ Grimmer & Ricardo Perez.
View the show, free, during regular museum hours: Mondays-Sundays: 10 am-4 pm. There will be an Artists’ Reception Friday, February 28th from 6-8 pm. To gain access to the exhibition, please stop by the Carriage House Visitor Center upon arrival for free admission.
About the Artists:
BJ Grimmer:
BJ Grimmer is a long-time artist and former art educator. She
has been painting and drawing all her life and received her bachelor’s degree in art education from Iowa State University.
Since moving to Wilmington in 2019, BJ has been represented at the Citrine Gallery and has had multiple solo shows including at the Burgwin-Wright House & Gardens and at the Bellamy Mansion Museum previously.
Ricardo Perez:
Ricardo spent 42 years as a National Park Service Ranger where his love of storytelling, nature, and historic foodways eventually led him to the world of art and North Carolina in his retirement. He serves as the president of the Art League of Leland and has been a featured artist in Cameron Art Museum’s Art of the State as well as exhibiting his landscapes, portraits, and still life originals in several solo shows.
Many of his works feature common food items, and he tells stories through those images of the edible. To Ricardo, a croissant is not just a croissant but a teaching tool for history. “People think the croissant is a French pastry. I think the French elevated it to the form we know now, but the croissant originated in Austria, as a way of celebrating the Austrian army’s victory over the Turks in 1683. Food origins are a wonderful way to explore history.”
For more information, please contact Leslie at lmorton@bellamymansion.org or by calling (910)-251-3700 x305.
https://www.bellamymansion.org/exhibits.html

Thalian Hall Film Screenings & Exhibit – “Lived in Bodies: Art by Virginia Wright-Frierson”
2025-01-26 17:30 - 19:00 | Historic Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St, Wilmington, 28401
Our first screening has SOLD OUT! Purchase tickets to our Encore Event at **5:30PM** for a Second Screening and Q&A: https://www.thalianhall.org/aib-livinbod-25
Join us at Thalian Hall in the Stein Theatre on Sunday, January 26th, 2025, 5:30-7pm for a special film screening of the internationally recognized documentary short, “Lived in Bodies: Art by Virginia Wright-Frierson” on the big screen! Following the film we will host a Q&A Session with the artist and the creators of the film.
This film is produced by Art in Bloom Gallery and Amy N. Grant and is directed by Christina Capra and edited by Jessie Robertson.
Additionally, Art in Bloom Gallery is collaborating with Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts to present the paintings of Virginia Wright-Frierson! Discover Virginia’s painted scenes across the 2nd Floor Lobby and Ruth & Bucky Stein Theatre, where her documentary feature, “Lived-In Bodies: Art by Virginia Wright-Frierson” will be screened!
The exhibit will be open daily from 12-5pm, January 10th – March 26th, as well as most evenings and via tours at 310 Chestnut St. Preview the works online at: https://aibgallery.com/product-category/thalian-hall/
About the Artist
Virginia Wright-Frierson has made Wilmington, North Carolina her home for over 40 years. She travels extensively for inspiration for her painting and frequent visits with family across the United States.
She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, with additional training at the Arts Students’ League in New York City and the University of Georgia Studies Abroad Program in Cortona, Italy. Virginia has lectured and taught many workshops and classes in painting and drawing and on illustrating children’s books.
She is widely known for her design and construction of the Minnie Evans Bottle Chapel and Sculpture Garden at Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, a structure built with mortar and thousands of glass bottles, inspired by the art of the visionary artist who worked in the garden for many years as a gatekeeper.
In 2000, Virginia donated the sweeping mural which is permanently installed on the ceiling of the new atrium at Columbine High School after the tragic shootings there. It is comprised of twenty painted panels which lift the eyes to a perspective of a Colorado forest of evergreens, aspen and sunlight.
She has written and illustrated many children’s books, including three John Burroughs Nature Book Award winners: A Desert Scrapbook, An Island Scrapbook, and A North American Rain Forest Scrapbook.
Her most recent work has included a one-person exhibition of 120 road trip oil paintings at the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington, a “pop up” exhibit of new oils and watercolors at 216 N. Front Street sponsored by Art in Bloom Gallery, and a Cameron Art Museum exhibit, “The Lived-In Body, Celebrating Women Over 65.”

The Onyx Club Boys in Concert!
2025-01-25 19:30 - 21:00 | St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1416 Market Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
Music on Market is proud to bring Onyx Club Boys Quartet to its 2024-25 Season Concert Series~ Indulge in the captivating rhythms and infectious energy of a gypsy jazz quartet (violin, guitar, upright bass, and drums) as they transport you to the vibrant streets of 1930’s Paris and Stuff Smith’s New York City Swing. Their diverse influences will take the music beyond borders. Join them for a trip around the world, which will make you swoon, tap your feet, and realize how universally similar music really is.
All concerts are free, open to the public and family friendly!
For more information, please visit www.musiconmarket.org

Fourth Friday at Momentum Companies – Featuring Judy Hintz Cox & John Sharkey
2025-01-24 18:00 - 21:00 | MoMentum Companies, 103 S. Front St, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
MoMentum Companies & Art in Bloom Gallery are continuing their collaboration in 2025! Join us in downtown Wilmington on Fourth Friday Gallery Nights. We are featuring the original work of artist, John Sharkey, and gallery artist, Judy Hintz Cox.
The opening Fourth Friday Event is January 24, from 6-9pm, and the show runs through April 1, 2025. This exhibit will also be open for the following Fourth Friday events on February 28 and March 28.
View art Monday-Friday from 9am-3pm at MoMentum Companies at 103 S. Front Street in downtown Wilmington, NC.
About Judy Hintz Cox
Judy started painting while living in Peru, SA, at the age of 26. That was over 40 years ago.
Upon returning to the USA, Judy worked as an artists’ model, where she met established artists, who critiqued her art. This was invaluable. She was taught how to “see” color, composition and expression. Her quest to learn more gave her the incentive to enroll at the University of Maryland for a second BA, in Studio Arts.
Ms. Hintz Cox resigned from her Psychiatric RN career to pursue art full time in 1999. For the past 20 years, Judy has developed a unique style as an abstract minimalist.
She has exhibited extensively throughout the USA.

Fourth Friday Art Gallery Opening Reception: “A Life In Color”
2025-01-24 18:00 - 21:00 | McErny Gallery at WHQR, 254 North Front Street, Suite 300, Wilmington, 28401, United States
“A Life In Color” celebrates the life and artwork of North Carolina artist and painter Frances H. LaFontaine (1935-2017).
The opening reception will be held on January 24th from 6pm to 9pm in the MC Erny Gallery.

CreativeMornings: Creating Community on Castle Street with Brian Ownbey
2025-01-24 08:30 - 10:00 | Azalea Station, 1502 Castle St., Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
Brian Ownbey, owner of Modern Love, a vintage store specializing in Mid-Century design, talks about the journey to opening his store on Castle Street — and his ideas about where this unique, historically rich district can go in the future. We’ll also hear from other Castle Street community members, shop owners and more!
CreativeMornings is a monthly breakfast series for the creative community. Each event is free, and includes a 20-minute talk.

Soup To Nuts Live! Featuring Acisse Jay
2025-01-23 19:30 - 21:30 | McErny Gallery at WHQR, 254 North Front Street, Suite 300, Wilmington, 28401, United States
STNL! returns on Thursday, January 23rd @ 7:30 pm in the MC Erny Gallery with singer-songwriter Acisse Jay!
Acisse Jay is a captivating rock/blues/Americana singer-songwriter from Norfolk, VA, known for her electrifying performances and soulful, genre-blending songwriting. Her sound—a fusion of rock, blues, country, gospel, and Americana—has earned her the moniker “the soul of rock,” bringing a fresh voice to classic styles.
Reserve your seats by emailing soup@whqr.org or call 910-343-1640 Ext 203 during regular business hours. ($10 suggested donation)

Willy Wonka Jr.
2025-01-17 19:30 - 2025-01-26 15:00 | Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, 120 South 2nd Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka JR. follows enigmatic candy manufacturer Willy Wonka as he stages a contest by hiding golden tickets in five of his scrumptious candy bars. Whomever comes up with these tickets will win a free tour of the Wonka factory, as well as a lifetime supply of candy. Four of the five winning children are insufferable brats, but the fifth is a likeable young lad named Charlie Bucket, who takes the tour in the company of his equally amiable grandfather. The children must learn to follow Mr. Wonka’s rules in the factory — or suffer the consequences.

Cinematique Presents: A Real Pain
2025-01-13 19:00 - 2025-01-15 21:00 | Historic Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St, Wilmington, 28401
A Real Pain runs from Monday, January 13th to Wednesday, January 15th at the Historic Main Stage at Thalian Hall at 7 pm, with an additional screening at 4 pm on Wednesday, January 15th.
Mismatched cousins reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother, but their old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.

Curtain Call:Wilmington Youth Theater Honors
2025-01-12 12:00 - 19:00 | Wilson Center Cape Fear Community College, 703 N 3rd St, Wilmington, 28401
Curtain Call is a celebration, not a competition. It’s an evening dedicated to recognizing the creativity, passion, and hard work of young artists who have graced our stages during the 2023-2024 season. The event will spotlight standout performers and productions from schools and local theater companies, providing a well-deserved “curtain call” for these remarkable youth. This event will take place at 6pm on January 12, 2025 at the Wilson Center in partnership with the Arts Council of Wilmington. The day of the event will also feature a special Broadway-led workshop from 12-3pm, free for nominees, and open to all others for a nominal fee. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to perform during the evening show, creating an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.
