Local Information

Established in 2008, the Arts Council promotes arts-driven economic development, provides a stream of funding to support the sustainability of artists and arts organizations, facilitates communication and collaboration within the arts community, and advocates for the arts at the local, state and national levels.

The Bellamy Mansion is one of North Carolina's most spectacular examples of antebellum architecture, built on the eve of the Civil War. It is now a museum that focuses on history and the design arts and offers tours, changing exhibitions and an informative look at historic preservation in action.

A 42,000 square foot cultural gathering place designed in 2002 by the renowned architectural firm of Gwathmey Siegel & Associates (NYC). The museum presents exhibitions and public programs of both historical and contemporary significance, with 6-8 changing exhibitions annually, in addition to outdoor, site-specific projects on its park property.

Located in historic downtown Wilmington, the Children's Museum provides an environment where children ages 1-10 can learn amazing things about themselves and the world through informal, playful, hands-on and child-directed experiences.

Cucalorus is a non-competitive festival focused on supporting innovative artists and encouraging creative exchange. The festival is held each November in historic downtown Wilmington, North Carolina with screenings of 150 films from around the world.

Based in Wilmington, this 50-acre film and television production complex has a total of 150,000 square feet of column-free studio stage space, including 10 sound stages, two special effects water tanks. It is comparable to any major studio in the country.

Founded in 2008, the New Wilmington Art Association (NWAA) enables artists to work, develop, and think through its creative interventions staged in vacant properties throughout the City of Wilmington to foster the development of a more diverse cultural landscape in Wilmington.

The mission of the Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. is to present a broad range of educational, entertainment and cultural programs; to be a major regional resource for quality spaces, equipment and services; and to preserve the symbol of Wilmington’s cultural heritage for future generations.

Working Films--neither a production company nor a distributor--is a national, nonprofit organization available to all independent filmmakers and community organizers. It brings together the documentary filmmakers and links their work with innovative organizers and educators.

From 1941 to 1945, the USO hosted 35,000 uniformed visitors a week. Recently renovated with sensitivity to its historic character, the Hannah Block Historic USO (HBHUSO) lobby serves as a museum where WWII memorabilia and other artifacts are displayed. Besides the WWII exhibit, it serves as a community arts center with classes in artistic disciplines and summer arts camp for children and as a community gallery.

Airlie, a part of New Hanover County Parks, offers a combination of formal gardens, wildlife, historic structures, walking trails, sculptures, views of Bradley Creek, 10-acres of freshwater lakes, and thousands of trees, including the 467-year-old Airlie Oak. Hundreds of butterflies, all native to North Carolina, can be found flying about inside the open-air butterfly house.

A complete guide to all the fishing piers along the NC coast with contact information, maps, descriptions of amenities and fishing reports.

Cape Fear River Watch (CFRW) was founded in 1993 to protect and improve the water quality of the Lower Cape Fear River Basin through education, advocacy and action. Founders envisioned a permanent nonprofit organization, open to everyone, dedicated to the improvement and preservation of the health, beauty, cleanliness, and heritage of the Cape Fear River basin.

Greenfield Lake was originally developed in the 1730s by Dr. Samuel Green to aid rice production. In 1912, when Tidewater Power Company extended its trolley lines to the Lake, it quickly became a popular recreation destination and a hotspot for lake activities. Today, it boasts a five-mile paved pathway surrounded by beautiful scenic views of cypress trees draped with Spanish moss, vibrant pink azaleas, and local wildlife.

North Carolina Cooperative Extension partners with communities to deliver education and technology that enrich the lives, land and economy of North Carolinians.

The county parks system includes 1,300 acres with 31 sites offering an array of athletic facilities, playgrounds, picnic facilities, walking trails and gardens.

This site provides the national infrastructure, science, and technical expertise to monitor, assess, and distribute tide, current, water level, and other coastal oceanographic products and services that support NOAA's mission of environmental stewardship and environmental assessment and prediction.

The aquarium setting provides a unique opportunity for scientific research aimed at sustaining and restoring native aquatic animals, plants and their habitats. Veterinary research is carried out in partnership with the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine.