Beaufort Music Festival donates $10,000 to Carteret Community Theatre’s restoration efforts

MOREHEAD CITY — As the Carteret Community Theatre inches closer to a long-awaited reopening of its historic downtown venue, one local arts organization is helping the cause take center stage.

Beaufort Arts & Music, the nonprofit behind the Beaufort Music Festival, has donated $10,000 to Carteret Community Theatre (CCT) to support its ongoing capital campaign. The funds will go toward outfitting the theatre’s new sound system, a critical step in preparing the space for performances.

The contribution aligns with Beaufort Arts & Music’s mission to enrich the community through access to music and the arts, particularly for children.

“We believe venues like CCT play a vital role in showcasing local talent and providing opportunities for artistic expression,” Karen Gould, president of Beaufort Arts & Music, said. “This donation reflects our dedication to ensuring such spaces continue to thrive and serve our community for years to come.”

The donation also lays the groundwork for a new collaboration between the two organizations, as Beaufort Arts & Music hopes to host additional one-off shows at the theatre once it reopens. Gould said the group has long supported local youth programs, in-school music clinics, music therapy efforts and environmental education initiatives, and hopes the gift to CCT “continues that tradition and marks the beginning of an ongoing partnership.”

The theatre, located at 1311 Arendell St., has been closed since Hurricane Florence in 2018 severely damaged the roof, leaving the interior unusable. Since then, CCT has launched an ambitious renovation and fundraising effort to bring the building back to life – not just as a theatre, but as a state-of-the-art cultural hub.

CCT Treasurer John Scibal said the recent donation is more than financial support; it’s also an investment in professional-grade equipment.

“The Beaufort Music Festival has been helpful not only for their financial commitment but also their expertise with sound systems, and their large number of contacts in the industry,” Scibal said.

The theatre’s fundraising goal is $2.5 million, split into two phases: $1.8 million to obtain a certificate of occupancy and complete core building repairs, and $700,000 for production equipment including seats, sound, lighting, and curtains. To date, the campaign has raised $1.6 million. 

Much of that momentum came in 2024, with major gifts from the Big Rock Foundation and local Rotary clubs totaling $750,000 combined. Building permits for the restoration were approved last August, and construction is now underway. The project is being led by Hudson Brothers Construction Company of Greenville, with a target completion of the certificate of occupancy set for this summer. 

Any money raised this summer will be matched by the Anonymous Trust Foundation. Currently the CCT has a seat campaign, allowing patrons to purchase an inscribed seat for $1,000, as well as various naming rights starting at $10,000.

For more information about Carteret Community Theatre’s capital campaign, visit carteretcommunitytheatre.com. Details on Beaufort Arts & Music and its year-round programming can be found at beaufortmusicfestival.com.

• ZACK NALLY NEWS-TIMES