Belonging at the Amphitheater

The idea for the Joseph M. Bryan, Jr., Theater in the Museum Park started in the late 1980s. The structure was built in 1996, but the first season of outdoor performances was postponed to 1997 because of Hurricane Fran. The outdoor stage is also a large-scale environmental work of art. It integrates art and architecture to help create giant letters that spell out PICTURE THIS over two and a half acres. Museum Director Valerie Hillings explains: Valerie Hillings: “If you look at us on Google, you can see the letters together. And that is an interesting thing, because if you didn't know that it wrote out picture this, you might not know it, particularly if you encountered it at ground level.” Many of the letters incorporate specific references to the history, culture, and landscape of North Carolina. This speaks to the goals of Moses T. Alexander Greene, director of performing arts and film at the NCMA: Moses Greene: “My initial goals were always going to be based and will always be based on cultivating belonging.” Moses Greene: “Diversity is one thing; inclusion is something else. But belonging means that every person that visits our museum, every person who comes to one of our events or our performances, that they feel seen and heard and reflected on our stages.” Moses Greene: “It's not about increasing numbers of identities in people and religions in our programming. Just so I can check off a number, I absolutely want every person of every identity to know that they belong and that if they do not see themselves reflected in our permanent collection, I can create, I can attract, I can produce programming that reflects a greater array of identities and lived experiences.” The Amphitheater—including an outdoor cinema for summer movies—helps the Museum bring outdoor programs to the community. The aluminum and steel structure of the 30-by-60-foot screen is attached to the side of East Building. The Amphitheater holds 2,800 people, so families and friends can gather to appreciate film and performing arts. Moses Greene: “Dr. Anita Sands says that belonging is more important than any diversity or inclusion initiative because belonging is a fundamental human need.” Moses Greene: “And so belonging to me is not just cultural. It is making sure that we are making the arts accessible for the different ways that people learn.”