By Mary Frances Cassidy
In our ever-expanding community, known for its strong local bonds, a new nonprofit is ensuring the arts remain a central part of that growth. Arts Holly Springs, founded by AsheLee Bonham Gahagan, is revitalizing the town’s cultural scene through a focus on creativity and resident involvement, and a dedication to increasing access to the arts by supporting local artists, empowering creative businesses, and championing diverse programs.
A distinguished musician, Ms. Bonham Gahagan earned a Bachelor of Arts in cello performance and pursued advanced studies in both the former and arts administration.
Driven by her passion for the arts and the rapid growth of Holly Springs, she’s sought to broaden cultural access within the community. “I think the town has done a great job of bringing music and arts programming, but as the town has grown, there’s more of a demand. The Cultural Center can only serve so many people at a time, and I think the town has grown to the point where we can host multiple events in a weekend, and experience strong attendance at all of them. So, I began looking at ways to bring access to the public. For example, not everyone is going to the museum to look at a painting, so [we advocate] for a mural on the side of a building — and bring that art, in an everyday way, right to the people.”
Ms. Bonham Gahagan is not alone in her vision of what Arts Holly Springs can bring to the community. She’s joined by a board of directors that greatly share her commitment to building strong partnerships with town leadership and local businesses, with each member bringing their own wealth of knowledge and experience:
Officers
Vice Chair Shawnda Rossi, business owner and former Wake County Schools art teacher
Secretary Charmaine James,IT professional and experienced non-profit supporter of children with disabilities
Treasurer Danielle Weaver, local business owner
Members at Large
Linda Koffenberger, watercolor artist
Amber Foster-Smith, local business owner
Joe Sherrier, local business owner
Tonya Palumbo, local business owner
Advisory Board
Jenn McEwen, United Arts of Wake County
Irena Krstanovic, Town of Holly Springs
The board possesses a mutual enthusiasm for the arts and a shared, firm belief that creative initiatives serve as a significant economic driver for the town.
To cultivate community interest, the organization relies on growth through social media and personal recommendations, while strengthening ties within the local business community and utilizing a refreshed website featuring a dedicated schedule of upcoming events. So far, the group’s efforts have proven successful. Arts Holly Springs celebrated its debut with a downtown Art Walk last fall and held another this past May. Designed as a self-guided experience, the Art Walk invites the community to discover unique pieces by local artisans, showcased within various downtown host businesses. Participants have included Ashe School of Music, Wine 100, Fusion Development, and Fable Books and Café.
“We had more people come through the locations this time than during our previous one, and we received a lot of positive feedback from the host businesses and attendees — including that they’d love to see more businesses participate and an increase in the number of artists. So, I thought that was really fantastic,” said Ms. Bonham Gahagan. “We tried to curate it to where it was an interesting mix of artists, and we had a wide variety of styles from watercolor flower portraits to pieces with fun, eclectic, bright colors. We also collaborated with Holly Springs on their Chalk of the Town event in the spring and assisted them in selecting vendors for the accompanying Artisan Market.”
This summer, Arts Holly Springs debuted its highly awaited Blue Notes and Bright Nights Jazz Series within the recital space of Ashe Music Hall. The series features a selection of gifted performers spanning a diverse range of musical styles and was made possible through a very generous donation grant from the Carlisle Adams Foundation and a matching grant from a private donor.
This fall, the organization is planning a “plein air” festival where creators across various mediums will produce work in an open-air setting. The event will culminate in an auction, providing attendees the chance to bid on original pieces created throughout the day. The group was also awarded a grant from the Town of Holly Springs for the upcoming year.
The mission of Arts Holly Springs extends beyond cultural enrichment. The organization is dedicated to showcasing how creative initiatives act as a powerful economic stimulus. By hosting downtown art events that draw visitors into the area, the nonprofit encourages patrons to shop and dine, ultimately benefiting the entire Holly Springs business community, while they experience our town’s unique offerings. Still in its early stages, the nonprofit continues to cultivate a wealth of innovative ideas, anticipating many more successful events in the future. I’d say they’re off to a pretty great start!
