February 12 • 5-8pm • Harrison Center
February 25 • 11am-1pm • Temple Church
Empty Bowls New Bern is alive and well for 2021 despite COVID-19. Religious Community Services (RCS) and Craven Arts Council and Gallery are again collaborating for the 12th annual event—but it has a Fresh New Look!
Tickets are $30 and available at Bank of the Arts, Fuller’s Music, Mitchell Hardware, Realo Drugs at Carolina Colours, RCS and Temple Church, online at cravenarts.org and emptybowlsnewbern.org.
Because of the current public health situation, we had to rethink and reinvent Empty Bowls for 2021. Since large, indoor gatherings of people are not happening in February of 2021, we are offering a different opportunity for our ticket holders. We will still have bowls and other kitchen items, but this year, the ticket holder will receive a $5 coupon good at nine participating restaurants where you can order in or take out a bowl of soup or another menu item. This way we and you are helping the struggling restaurants who have been so badly impacted by the COVID restrictions. It is a total win win!
As usual the generous and unselfish local potters are contributing handcrafted bowls to the cause. This year we had Riley Speidel from Charlotte and Rebecca Shelby from New Bern participate in the Throwdown. Out of town potters Brent Wheelwright from Morehead and Chris O’Connell and Lanny Pelletier from Cape Carteret are returning with bowls for your choosing. In addition, Precision Moulding is donating 100 handmade cutting boards, and the Twin Rivers Quilting Guild is contributing as well.
Accidental Artist has initiated Paint To Go to supplement the bowls they normally contribute. The bowls on the front cover were painted by grandchildren; what a great Winter confinement activity. You can get involved by creating your own bowl at Accidental Artist—Paint at Home. Contact Accidental Artist at 252-634-3411.
You will have two opportunities to pick out your bowl—Friday night February 12, from 5-8pm at the Harrison Center and Thursday February 25, from 11-1 at Temple Church. In both locations, the bowls will be spread out and only a total of 25 masked ticket holders will be allowed in at any given time.
And, it may turn out to be one of the strongest years ever. And here’s why: instead of Craven County corporations being our major sponsors, this year it has been private individuals and smaller businesses who have contributed. To date, we have over $30,000 in sponsorship donations. Reba Aylward is our Presenting Sponsor and Trawick (Buzzy) Stubbs on behalf of Captain Ratty’s as Title Sponsor. As well, we have four Platinum sponsors: Chris and Judy McCrudden, Crystal Coast Productivity, New Bern Family Dentistry, and Segal Family Charities. There are five Diamond Sponsors: Onslow Stoneworks, Carolina Colours, Bob and Carol Mattocks, and Dermatology Associates of Coastal Carolina, and the Neuse River Area Realty Association. An additional 46 are supporting Empty Bowls 2021! Our media sponsors are the Sun Journal, Proctor Auctions, and Curtis Media Group.
Lastly, we’ve added a virtual art auction. Thirty generously donated art items are up for auction at www.proctorauctions.com. As well, the items are on display at Bank of the Arts. The auction runs from January 8 until February 12.
Most of us know that RCS feeds people, 150 hot meals per day to be exact. But they also offer temporary shelter to 200 guests per year, have a Prescription Drug Assist program, operate a Clothing Closet, have a Food Pantry that provides 185,000 meals annually, and collaborates with Craven Community College with Employment Ready Bootcamps.
Craven Arts Council & Gallery supports local artists through grants: Maintains and expands community art projects; Presents art-based events including the Eastern Carolina Pottery Festival, concerts, and exhibitions of regional and national artists; coordinates efforts to beautify the city with Bear Town Bears, Sculpture, and Broad Street Banners. They collaborate with the local schools when possible like the current Valentine Project and the Boys and Girls Club; and is expanding their presence in the Five Points area beginning with the Unity Youth Clasping Hands Sculpture.
There is less than 5% overhead in this fund raiser. From the description above you can see the amount of good your participation does inside the community. And you get a kitchen item to show for it.
Go to emptybowlsnewbern.org or cravenarts.org for further information about ticket purchase or auction items.