Capitol Broadcasting and WRAL-TV once again proudly supported our local arts community with the broadcast of Big Night in for the Arts Thursday, March 7, 2024. As of the late part of the month, the total raised had reached $145,000 to support local artists, arts organizations and arts programming across the region!
As of late March, the total raised had reached $145,000 to support local artists, arts organizations and arts programming across the region.
The 2024 broadcast is once again a collaboration between WRAL-TV and the four local arts councils of Wake, Durham, Chatham, and Orange counties to raise funds to support the arts in our community.
“It was thrilling to watch the WRAL team show up in force to support Big Night In for the Arts!” said WRAL-TV Station Manager Heather Gray. “Between amazing storytelling by our local production team, encouragement by our on-air talent team and the technical execution by our producers, photographers and engineers…our commitment to the community was on full display!”
WRAL-TV Anchors Chris Lovingood (l to r) & Lena Tillett host the live broadcast while WRAL-TV News Photographer Ed Wilson, WRAL-TV News Producer Sam Maneri & WRAL-TV Local Production Producer Steve Elizondo work behind the scenes at the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts at the Durham Arts Council on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
The evening included performances by renowned artists including Grammy-nominated musicians Pierce Freelon and Tift Merritt, award winning bluegrass musician Tray Wellington, local muralist Gabriel Eng-Goetz, emerging playwright and filmmaker Jordan Wiley, and the dynamic Latin American dance group Takiri Folclor Latino.
WRAL viewers and arts supporters could enjoy the event from home on WRAL-TV and WRAL.com or grab tickets to attend the Watch Party hosted at the Durham Arts Council.
Portions of the program were pre-recorded but both Takiri Folclor Latino and Wellington and his band performed live at the Watch Party for the broadcast. WRAL-TV Anchors Lena Tillett and Chris Lovingood hosted the Watch Party portion of the event and conducted a variety of interviews live from the venue as well.
Tray Wellington and his band play during the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts on Thursday, March 7, 2024. The performance from the Durham Arts Council was part of the live broadcast.
The Arts Make a Big Difference
The economic and social impact of nonprofit arts organizations in the Triangle cannot be denied. In Wake, Durham, Orange and Chatham counties, these organizations generated $895M in economic activity. These organizations create 15k jobs in the Triangle, and 13 million people attend in-person events. (Americans for the Arts compiled this data in the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 2023 Study.)
The area covered by these four local arts councils contributed 40% over the overall impact of the $2.3 Billon in economic activity generated by NC Arts & Culture.
Want to relive the magic? Or did you miss the live show? You can watch it online and donate until early April: Watch the Full Broadcast Here
Thank you to the generous sponsors, donors, watch party guests, and everyone who tuned in to Big Night In this year! All funds raised support arts programming across the Triangle.
Check out more about putting the broadcast together:
WRAL-TV Anchors Lena Tillett (r to l) & Chris Lovingood host the live broadcast while WRAL-TV Local Production Producer Scott Reid mans a camera at the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts at the Durham Arts Council on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
WRAL-TV News Producer Sam Maneri runs the live broadcast from the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts at the Durham Arts Council on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
WRAL-TV Local Production Producer Steve Elizondo (l to r), United Arts VP for Community & Education Programs Ragen Carlile & WRAL-TV Technical Project Coordinator Tony Gupton get set for the live broadcast from the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts at the Durham Arts Council on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
WRAL-TV Chief Photographer Ed Wilson gets set for the live broadcast from the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts at the Durham Arts Council on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
Takiri Folclor Latino performs during the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts on Thursday, March 7, 2024. The performance from the Durham Arts Council was part of the live broadcast.
Takiri Folclor Latino performs during the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts on Thursday, March 7, 2024. The performance from the Durham Arts Council was part of the live broadcast.
Takiri Folclor Latino performs during the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts on Thursday, March 7, 2024. The performance from the Durham Arts Council was part of the live broadcast.
Tray Wellington and his band play during the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts on Thursday, March 7, 2024. The performance from the Durham Arts Council was part of the live broadcast.
Takiri Folclor Latino performs during the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts on Thursday, March 7, 2024. The performance from the Durham Arts Council was part of the live broadcast.
Tray Wellington and his band play during the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts on Thursday, March 7, 2024. The performance from the Durham Arts Council was part of the live broadcast.
Tray Wellington and his band play during the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts on Thursday, March 7, 2024. The performance from the Durham Arts Council was part of the live broadcast.
WRAL-TV Anchors Chris Lovingood (l to r) & Lena Tillett host the live broadcast while WRAL-TV Chief PHotographer Ed Wilson & WRAL-TV Technical Project Coordinator Tony Gupton work behind the scenes at the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts at the Durham Arts Council on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
WRAL-TV Anchors Chris Lovingood (l to r) & Lena Tillett host the live broadcast from the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts at the Durham Arts Council on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
Tray Wellington and his band play during the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts on Thursday, March 7, 2024. The performance from the Durham Arts Council was part of the live broadcast.
WRAL-TV Anchors Chris Lovingood (l to r) & Lena Tillett host the live broadcast while WRAL-TV News Photographer Ed Wilson mans a camera at the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts at the Durham Arts Council on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
Guests watch the live broadcast at the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts at the Durham Arts Council on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
Tray Wellington (right) and his band play during the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts on Thursday, March 7, 2024. The performance from the Durham Arts Council was part of the live broadcast.
WRAL-TV Anchors Chris Lovingood (l to r) & Lena Tillett host the live broadcast while WRAL-TV News Photographer Ed Wilson, WRAL-TV News Producer Sam Maneri & WRAL-TV Local Production Producer Steve Elizondo work behind the scenes at the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts at the Durham Arts Council on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
WRAL-TV Technical Project Coordinator Tony Gupton (right) & WRAL-TV Chief Photographer Ed Wilson work behind the scenes at the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts at the Durham Arts Council on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
WRAL-TV Station Manager Heather Gray snaps a photo of the broadcast team after the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts at the Durham Arts Council on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
United Arts Council President & CEO Jenn McEwan (left) poses for a photo with the on-site WRAL-TV crew responsible for the live broadcast from the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts at the Durham Arts Council on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
WRAL-TV’s Heather Gray (l to r), WRAL retiree Phyllis Parish, WRAL-TV’s Scott Reid & WRAL-TV’s Sam Maneri pose for a “Big 5” photo after the live broadcast from the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts at the Durham Arts Council on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
United Arts Council President & CEO Jenn McEwan (left) poses for a photo with the on-site WRAL-TV crew responsible for the live broadcast from the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts at the Durham Arts Council on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
WRAL-TV Senior Broadcast Engineer Allan Palmer (right) & WRAL-TV Technical Project Coordinator Tony Gupton pack up equipment after live broadcast from the Watch Party for Big Night In for the Arts at the Durham Arts Council on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
