Rising Stars: Meet Charles Phaneuf

Today we’d like to introduce you to Charles Phaneuf.

Hi Charles, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I got started in the arts through music – my grandmother was a piano teacher and choir director, and everyone in my immediate family plays an instrument and sings. This love of music led to having bands in high school and college and wanting opportunities to perform, so I learned about producing and presenting before I’d ever heard of the term. In college (UNC-CH), I was president of the student union and earned a Business degree and a Music minor. My career in arts management has led me to live and work in New York, Washington, DC, and then finally brought me back to Raleigh. However, I now work virtually out of Atlanta for South Arts, a regional arts organization that enhances Southern vitality through the arts.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Art has so much to offer all of us – it’s a way to express ourselves and become more empathetic by seeing the world from other perspectives. Yet, it’s often not valued as it should be. Funding is a constant challenge in the arts and culture field for organizations and individual artists. Funding for the arts in the southeast United States is $4 per capita, compared to $8 per capita nationally. And lately, a challenge we all face is maintaining existing relationships and building new ones with audiences since COVID has changed so much about how we all live and interact.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
My current position is VP of Strategy for South Arts, an organization based in Atlanta covering a nine-state region including North Carolina. I work on partnerships, fundraising, and shaping a long-term vision for the organization to support our mission, which is to enhance Southern vitality through the arts.

Past positions include President of the United Arts Council of Raleigh & Wake County, a local arts agency specializing in arts education, and Executive Director of Raleigh Little Theatre, a historic community theatre and performing arts venue.

My strengths include developing new coalitions and partnerships that address community needs and service gaps. For example, under my leadership at United Arts, we launched Big Night In for the Arts at United Arts, a fundraiser in partnership with three other local arts agencies (Durham, Orange, and Chatham counties) and WRAL that was viewed by over 30,000 people that raised over $300k in its first year. I’ve also been active in partnerships and coalitions focused on marketing, accessibility, and advocacy.

At South Arts, I love that we work with artists and organizations of all disciplines across a diverse nine-state region. Many of our programs focus on equity and access. On any given day, we may support and collaborate with a touring dance company, an independent film artist, or an arts advocacy organization.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
So many, it’s hard to choose just a few!

Reading the News and Observer is essential if you love this area and want to know what’s happening across all sectors. WUNC and WRAL are also great. And I recently subscribed to Axios Raleigh, a new daily roundup of local news. For culture, I turn to the Slate Culture Gabfest, which keeps me updated on both highbrow and pop culture happenings. I also enjoy Walter Magazine and regional publications like the Oxford American and Garden & Gun. Last but not least, I’ve been in a book club for about 20 years that’s introduced me to many things I would have never read and others that had been on my list but wouldn’t have gotten to. Highly recommend joining a book club!

Pricing:

• NA – we offer grants to artists and individuals, and have free programs for the public

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.southarts.org/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CJPtoNC

Image Credits
All photos are of South Arts events and grant funded programs 1 – Opening of the Southern Prize at the Harvey B. Gantt Center – photo by Tyrus Ortega Gaines 2 – Fisk Singers with Durham School of the Arts 3 – Alabama Dance Council 4 – Opening of the Southern Prize at the Bo Bartlett Center – photo by Ivan Schustak 5 – Southern Circuit of Independent Film screening