WINSTON-SALEM – Changing the name “North Carolina School of the Arts” to “University of North Carolina School of the Arts” has been approved by the state Legislature. It is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Mike Easley in coming weeks.

The name change will be effective Aug. 1.

On July 9, the bill (Senate Bill 2015) passed in the House by the overwhelming margin of 115 to 1.

The bill had already passed unanimously in the Senate, on June 24.

“We are excited and humbled by the support of the North Carolina General Assembly,” said North Carolina School of the Arts Chancellor John Mauceri, who recently celebrated his second anniversary at the School. “This is a great time, an historic time for our School.”

In addition to the name change, the Legislature approved a state budget that included three School of the Arts projects tallying approximately $25 million (as part of the University of North Carolina system budget). The funded projects, identified in the School’s capital plan, are:

--$12.9 million for a production design facility for the School of Filmmaking;
--$11.1 million for a storage facility; and
--$1.5 million for the Center for Design Innovation (CDI) at Piedmont Triad Research Park. (The North Carolina School of the Arts is the lead agency for the interinstitutional initiative.)

Last year, the Legislature approved nearly $25 million for a new library for the School of the Arts.

“We believe the approval of our name change and the funding of our projects by the UNC Board of Governors and N.C. Legislature reflects a vote of confidence in the leadership, mission and future of our School,” said Jim DeCristo, director of economic development and external affairs for the School. “There is a lot of positive momentum building.”

DeCristo added that the School has been trying for more than three years to secure recurring operating funds, and it did this year ($750,000). That is in addition to half a million dollars of recurring funds the CDI received last year. “Receiving recurring funds two years in a row is another sign of confidence in the School,” he noted.

Suzanne Hilser-Wiles, chief advancement officer for the School of the Arts, said the confidence of the state’s leadership in the School, as reflected in the name change approval and state funding, will serve to demonstrate to potential private donors that the School is a good investment.

“These actions have set the stage for us to take our story out across North Carolina, the Southeast and beyond,” said Hilser-Wiles. “We’re very grateful for all the support we have received.”

The North Carolina School of the Arts was the first state-supported, residential school of its kind in the nation.  Established by the N.C. General Assembly in 1963, the School of the Arts opened in Winston-Salem in 1965 and became part of the University of North Carolina in 1972.  More than 1,100 students from middle school through graduate school train for careers in the arts in five professional schools:  Dance, Design and Production (including a Visual Arts
Program), Drama, Filmmaking and Music.  For more information, visit www.ncarts.edu.