Elevate Fayetteville | News Foundation of Greater Fayetteville
A dancer in a traditional pollera dress smiling and twirling her skirt during a downtown Fayetteville parade.
Elevate Fayetteville

Fayetteville has a story to tell.

Fund the reporter who tells it.

Arts. Culture. Entertainment. A once-in-a-generation investment in our community deserves a dedicated storyteller — help us fund one.

What the beat covers

Arts. Culture. Entertainment. Here’s what that actually means.

A

Arts

The organizations, venues, and people making creative work: theater, visual art, music, dance, and literary arts across Fayetteville.

C

Culture

The “why is this done like this in Fayetteville” stories — community identity, history, food, immigrant communities, traditions, and faith communities.

E

Entertainment

What to do, where to go, where to eat: dining, live music, the Cameo, and Crown Complex events.

Why now

A historic investment in Fayetteville’s arts, culture, and entertainment scene

Fayetteville and Cumberland County are in the middle of a once-in-a-generation investment in arts, culture, and entertainment — and that story deserves a dedicated storyteller.

$72.2M
Annual economic activity from the nonprofit arts sector
1,111
Jobs supported by arts and culture organizations
900,000+
Visitors drawn to Cumberland County annually
$9M+
Annual tax revenue from the creative economy
Source: Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) via Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County · wearethearts.com/impact-24
What is being built right now

The investment happening in Fayetteville’s infrastructure

$25 Million

Cape Fear Regional Theatre

A landmark 40,000-square-foot expansion.

Renovation underway

Crown Theatre and Arena

Cumberland County’s premier entertainment venues are being reimagined.

Newly opened

ArtsXL Arts Accelerator

Physical infrastructure for Fayetteville’s creative organizations — rehearsal, storage, and collaboration space.

Growing

Private entertainment investment

New live music venues, an art house cinema under new leadership, and cultural spaces opening downtown.

A crowded downtown Fayetteville street festival with food vendor tents and an American flag.
Two performers dancing on stage in a colorful theatrical production.
A musician in colorful dress playing clarinet alongside a conductor and orchestra.
Business and civic leaders agree

The economic case, in their own words

A thriving arts, culture, and entertainment community is essential to the economic vitality and quality of life of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, and thoughtful local coverage plays an important role in telling those stories.

Seth Benalt General Manager, Crown Complex · Chair, Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

Fayetteville’s arts and cultural community is experiencing a once-in-a-generation period of growth and investment. A dedicated reporter would help tell the stories behind that momentum.

Kennon Jackson, Jr. President/CEO, Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County

Having my work seen here has meant more than visibility. It has given me a sense of belonging within a community that values creativity.

Maura Trice Local artist and muralist

The arts remind us of our humanity, bring us together, and illuminate new perspectives. Fayetteville deserves this story.

Ella Wren Managing Director, Cape Fear Regional Theatre
The headline we haven’t written yet

You could be the reason this headline runs.

CityView · Fayetteville, NC
Breaking — Local News
CityView hires Fayetteville area Arts, Culture, and Entertainment reporter

A dedicated beat, fully funded, telling the stories of the artists, venues, and traditions that make this community what it is.

More information

Questions & answers

What exactly will this reporter cover? +

A full-time beat split across three lanes: Arts — the organizations, venues, and people making creative work, from theater to visual art to music, dance, and literary arts. Culture — the community-identity stories: history, food, faith traditions, and the traditions of Fayetteville’s many communities. Entertainment — the practical, day-to-day guide to what to do and where to go, including dining, live music, the Cameo, and Crown Complex events.

Why does Fayetteville need this now? +

Our community is in the middle of a once-in-a-generation investment in arts and culture — a $25 million expansion at Cape Fear Regional Theatre, the Crown Theatre and Arena renovation, the newly opened ArtsXL accelerator, and growing private investment in live music and cultural venues downtown. That investment deserves sustained, professional coverage, and right now it isn’t getting it.

Who is CityView, and who is the News Foundation of Greater Fayetteville? +

CityView is Fayetteville’s community-funded, nonpartisan news source, and part of The Assembly, North Carolina’s independent statewide news network. The News Foundation of Greater Fayetteville is the nonprofit that exists to fund exactly this kind of journalism at CityView — reporting that serves the community rather than outside interests or out-of-state owners.

How does telling this story help Fayetteville beyond the newsroom? +

CityView’s reach through The Assembly puts Fayetteville’s arts, culture, and entertainment story in front of audiences across the Triangle, the Triad, and the rest of North Carolina — the statewide recognition local artists, venues, and events have earned but rarely receive.

How can I get involved? +

Reach out directly — whether you’re interested in giving, want to talk through what a partnership could look like, or just want to learn more about the Elevate Fayetteville campaign. Email Sharon Moyer at smoyer@cityviewnc.com or call 910-261-7001.

A note on how gifts work: CityView is a for-profit local newsroom; the News Foundation of Greater Fayetteville is its nonprofit partner. Individual gifts to fund the ACE reporter beat are made through the News Foundation, while corporate and business partnerships are handled through CityView. Reach out and we’ll walk you through the option that fits.
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Invest in Greater Fayetteville’s story

Arts. Culture. Entertainment. Let’s make sure Fayetteville’s story gets told.

Local coverage. Statewide reach. One dedicated reporter. Get in touch to talk about how you can help fund the ACE beat.

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