“Fred Chappell is immensely talented and we are so excited to host him and the Touring Theater of NC for the RCCC Literary & Fine Arts Festival,” said Betty Stack, Liberal Arts division director for the college. “Having such a prominent North Carolina writer perform to and speak with our students and members of our community says a lot about how vital the arts are to the college and this area.”

The festival will kick off with “Look Back May Time Days” performance by the Touring Theater of NC with Fred Chappell playing his part. This event will be held at the Norvell Theater on Sunday, March 25 at 2:30 p.m.

Fred Chappell will also give a keynote address to students and community members on the morning of Monday, March 26. A second performance of the touring theater will take place on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at the Rowan-Cabarrus campus in Salisbury on the final day of the festival.

The college is also proud to host visiting artist, Gabriel Bennett. Bennett will collaborate with Rowan-Cabarrus students and the community to procure materials and assistance to produce a sculpture for the North Campus.

“We are thrilled that local, sustainable materials will be procured here in Rowan and Cabarrus Counties and will then be developed and transformed into a work of art by Mr. Bennett,” said Jenn Selby, instructor of photography and visual arts for the college. “It is a truly creative way for our students and the community to get involved in creating meaningful art.”

The college’s annual Weaver’s Knot Awards, Writing Awards and Literary Awards will be also be announced and honored during the festival.

While the full schedule of events is still being developed, the festival will include a variety of programs, presentations, workshops at the Salisbury (North) and Concord (South) campuses, and the Dilworth Coffee House at Coddle Creek.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. – reception and information booth about RCCC Literary & Fine Arts Festival (Norvell Theater)

2:30 p.m. – Look Back the May Time Days performance (Norvell Theater)

Monday, March 26, 2012

10:00 a.m.-10:50 a.m. – Keynote: Fred Chappell (North Campus, Rm 4204)

12:00 p.m.-12:50 p.m. – Multi-Genre Ideas in the Classroom (North Campus, Rm 4204)

1:00 p.m.-1:50 p.m. – film session led by Rowan-Cabarrus instructor Erin DiCesare (North Campus, Rm 4204)

1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. – Art Dept. Open House (North Campus Rm 608)

2:00 p.m.-2:50 p.m. – Local history reenactor Nancy Brewer (North Campus)

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

10:00 a.m.-10:50 a.m. – lecture on becoming a writer led by Rowan-Cabarrus religious studies instructor Michelle Lyerly (North Campus)

11:00 a.m.-11:50 a.m. – discussion of poetry and art led by Jonathan K. Rice (North Campus, Rm 4204)

12:00 p.m.-12:50 p.m. – Rowan-Cabarrus English instructor Shauna Moser and librarian Rodney Lippard will lead a discussion on the book, “Brighten the Corner Where You Are,” from festival keynote speaker Fred Chappell (North Campus, Rm 4204)

1:00 p.m.-1:50 p.m. – Weaver’s Knot Awards (North Campus, Rm 4204)

2:00 p.m.-4:45 p.m. – Sculpture Dedication (North Campus)

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

10:00 a.m.-10:50 a.m. – lecture on science fiction and poetry writing (South Campus, Rm 106)

11:00 a.m.-11:50 a.m. – Rowan-Cabarrus reading center director Teena Boone and librarian Timothy Hunter will lead a discussion on the book, “Brighten the Corner Where You Are,” from festival keynote speaker Fred Chappell (South Campus, Rm 106)

12:00 p.m.-12:50 p.m. – Open Mic (South Campus, Rm 106)

12:00 p.m.-1:45 p.m. – Leslie Frontz Watercolor Demo (South Campus Student Center)

2:00 p.m.-2:50 p.m. – poet and artist Jonathon K. Rice leads an interactive session on the joining of art and poetry (South Campus, Rm 106)

5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. – Open Mic (Dilworth Coffeehouse)

Thursday, March 29, 2012

9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. – Reception (North Campus, Auditorium)

10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. – Look Back the May Time Days performance (North Campus, Auditorium)

12:15 p.m.-1:00 p.m. – Call Me M.I.S.T.E.R. Open Mic (North Campus, Auditorium)

1:15 p.m.-2:00 p.m. – Rowan-Cabarrus Creative Writing Awards (North Campus, Auditorium)

6:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. – Poetry Slam (Dilworth Coffeehouse)

The event’s sponsors include Barnes & Noble, KKA Architecture, McGraw-Hill and Blackboard, Bedford/St. Martin’s, Pearson Education, Cengage Learning, and the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Foundation.

The festival will be open to the community at large as well as Rowan-Cabarrus students. For more information about the festival, please contact Betty Stack at 704-216-3846 or 704-904-4763.