This article was originally published in EducationNC.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has announced the creation of a North Carolina Music Office to bolster and honor the state’s music industry and its artists by investing in the industry and creating music programming.
“North Carolina’s vibrant music industry is a key part of our state’s creative economy, driving economic growth and supporting nearly 45,000 jobs,” Cooper said in a press release. “An official N.C. Music Office will support this growing and important industry.”
The office will raise awareness of North Carolina’s musical heritage and education efforts while promoting economic development within the state through the music industry.
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This new office will be based within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) and will be equipped with a team to create a state music strategy through partnerships with several groups, including the N.C. Arts Council, the N.C. Museum of Art, the N.C. Museum of History, the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, the N.C. African American Heritage Commission, the N.C. American Indian Heritage Commission, and more.
The office’s team will also partner with organizations such as Visit NC, the N.C. Department of Commerce, and PBS North Carolina.
Educational content will also remain part of the office’s efforts, with collaboration planned between DNCR educators and the N.C. Arts Council, state symphony, and state museums to generate educational programming, said Michele Walker, public information officer for the DNCR.
“The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is uniquely positioned to support the new North Carolina Music Office thanks to our already robust cultural and educational programming centered on North Carolina music,” said DNCR Secretary Reid Wilson in the release. “We are excited to expand our resources and opportunities for the state’s thriving music industry—one that creates jobs and improves quality of life in all 100 counties.”
Cooper made the announcement on June 21 while proclaiming the day Make Music Day. A few other states such as Texas, Louisiana, and Tennessee also have state-supported music offices, according to Cooper’s office.
This article first appeared on EducationNC and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.