[Good News Friday is Cardinal & Pine’s weekly roundup of positive news stories from around NC. Today, we have an inspiring grant from the National Endowment of the Arts, awards for NC legends, and more. For past editions of Good News Friday, tap here.]
The National Endowment of the Arts is one of the more surprising—and for that reason, inspiring—survival stories of the second Trump administration.
You may remember that, back in May 2025, Trump began slashing National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants, putting the futures of countless creatives and arts organizations around the country in question.
However, analysis of NEA appropriations for Fiscal Year 2026 show that Congress was having none of that, awarding the agency $207 million, identical to FY 2025.
“The enacted arts humanities federal funding 2026 levels represent an unambiguous legislative defeat for the White House’s budget priorities,” reads this analysis at Legis1, a nonpartisan research group that covers Congress. “Even with Republicans controlling both chambers, the administration could not translate its proposal to eliminate these agencies into law.”
That’s a huge deal for the cultural future of the United States. Now let’s look at one way it will have an impact on North Carolina.
NC art museum receives $60K to help launch new Winston-Salem space
The North Carolina Museum of Art in Winston-Salem announced Tuesday that it is the recipient of a $60,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The grant will ensure that the institution can continue to operate during a two-year closure of its longtime Winston-Salem campus, funding a pilot exhibit and community programming at its new gallery space in downtown Winston-Salem.
The funding will go toward the launch of “NC Strong: Resilience, Tradition, & Innovation,” the museum’s series of exhibitions exploring the processes, practices, and natural materials of early- to mid-career artists from across North Carolina, according to a release from the organization.
With “Unboxed: Art Beyond the Museum” currently showing in the space, the next exhibit will open on Sept. 17. “Process as Practice: Three Artists from Western NC” will showcase the resilience of artists in communities impacted by Hurricane Helene.
“We are thrilled that the National Endowment for the Arts chose to fund the NC Strong program series,” said Bill Carpenter, executive director of NCMA Winston-Salem. “The state of North Carolina and the NCMA have long been national leaders in strengthening the creative economy and making the arts accessible. This generous support enables us to expand our community outreach to bring great art and impactful educational experiences to even more North Carolinians.”
Richard Petty, Jason Mott among distinguished North Carolina Award recipients
Gov. Josh Stein on Thursday announced this year’s recipients of the state’s highest civilian honor, the North Carolina Award, naming six honorees in the fields of literature, science, fine arts, and public service.
The 2026 honorees are Jason Mott for Literature; Richard Petty, Lt. Gen. Kevin Vereen (Ret.), and Randy Woodson for Public Service; Lindsay Zanno for Science; and Beverly McIver for Fine Arts.
Stein will present the award to the six honorees during a ceremony at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh on Nov. 17, with ticket sales benefitting two charities that serve veterans and military families: Blue Star Families and Camp Corral.
A quick rundown of the winners, via the Governor’s Office:
Jason Mott is a bestselling author, National Book Award winner, Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction winner, Pushcart Prize nominee, NAACP Image Award nominee, and Carnegie Medals for Excellence Longlist nominee from Bolton.
Richard Petty is a decorated NASCAR driver who went on to establish a summer camp known as Victory Junction in Randleman for children battling severe illness.
Lt. Gen. Kevin Vereen retired in August 2024 after 36 years in the US Army. During his career, he became a key adviser to Army leadership on infrastructure, installation services, and the morale of soldiers and their families.
Dr. W. Randolph Woodson served as the 14th chancellor of North Carolina State University from 2010 to 2025.
Dr. Lindsay Zanno is an internationally recognized paleontologist whose work confirmed the existence of the nanotyrannus species. For years, researchers believed the nanotyrannus to be a juvenile T. Rex, but Zanno’s work helped to confirm that the dinosaur is its own fully-grown, separate species. She is currently the head of paleontology at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
Living and working in Chapel Hill, Beverly McIver is known for her self-portraits and intimate family narratives. In 2022, she was the subject of the Emmy-nominated HBO documentary Raising Renee, which chronicled her journey in assuming responsibility for the care of her mentally impaired sister at the expense of her painting career.
NC Museum of History releases new renderings of future educational spaces
NCMA Winston-Salem is not the only cultural institution in North Carolina going through an exciting time of transition.
The North Carolina Museum of History on Thursday released new renderings that depict what the Raleigh museum will look like when it reopens in 2028. The project will expand the building by 40,000 square feet, including 25% more gallery space, while adding state-of-the-art classrooms featuring modular furniture, movable walls, integrated technology and collaborative learning areas.
The renovation will also include a black box theater and a demonstration kitchen, opening up countless opportunities for engagement and interaction at the venue.
“This project is about honoring the trust North Carolinians place in us to care for their history,” said C.J. Roberts, director of the Division of State History Museums. “We’re building a space worthy of the stories, artifacts, and traditions that define our state so they can be preserved and shared for generations to come.”
