Thursday, May 30, 2002

WILMINGTON, NC -- In an effort to assist area artists following the closing of the Arts Council of the Lower Cape Fear on May 31, UNC Wilmington will assist regional artists with promoting their events and programs through an electronic community calendar and E-Media (http://www.spinnc.org/emedia/), both housed on the SpinNC.org's web site.

SpinNC.org is a community network for southeastern North Carolina funded through grants and public/private partnerships. Through the calendar and E-Media, artists can promote their exhibits, gallery openings, programs, and events. A free service, E-Media distributes electronic press releases to more than 29 local and regional media outlets, including the Wilmington Star News, The News and Observer, the Daily News in Jacksonville, and the Fayetteville News and Observer. Area arts events and community arts programs also will be added to SpinNC.org’s Community Calendar.

"This is an excellent example of how the university can work with area nonprofits during these difficult times," said H. E. “Hunter” Thompson, Jr., director of Community Outreach Services. "The Arts Council, as a development partner, has been working with SpinNC.org since 1996. The Arts Council has been fostering the development of the arts community in southeastern North Carolina. SpinNC.org has aided in their effort by promoting arts events through the electronic Community Calendar."

Dr. Michelle R. Howard-Vital, vice chancellor for UNCW's Division for Public Service and Continuing Studies and associate provost explainred that “the University is dedicated to working hand-in-hand with community groups and nonprofits to assist them in fulfilling their service-based missions.”

SpinNC.org, http://www.spinnc.org/, is a community network managed by UNC Wilmington’s Community Outreach Services to respond to the needs of citizens in southeastern North Carolina. E-Media is only one of several services offered through the SpinNC.org portal. Other services include a Directory of Links, a Community Calendar (http://www.spinnc.org/calendar_frameset.html), a Community Resource Directory, and Funding Opportunities. SpinNC.org also serves as a host for many local and regional nonprofit Web sites.

For more information about SpinNC.org or E-Media please contact Community Outreach Services at 910.962-3138 or thompsonh@uncw.edu.