Editing Wilmington, North Carolina (section)

==Arts and culture==

===Performing arts===
The city supports a very active calendar with its showcase theater, [[City Hall/Thalian Hall|Thalian Hall]], hosting about 250 events annually. The complex has been in continuous operation since it opened in 1858 and houses three performance venues, the Main Stage, the Grand Ballroom, and the Studio Theater.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thalianhall.com |title=Home |publisher=Thalian Hall |date=May 16, 2013 |access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref>

The Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wilmingtoncommunityarts.org |title=Welcome to the Hannah S. Block Community Arts Center |publisher=Wilmingtoncommunityarts.org |date=April 5, 2013 |access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref> 120 South Second Street in the [[Wilmington Historic District]], is a multiuse facility owned by the City of Wilmington and managed by the Thalian Association,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thalian.org |title=Thalian Association – The Official Community Theater of North Carolina |publisher=Thalian.org |access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref> the Official Community Theater of North Carolina.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/North_Carolina/community-theater.html |title=North Carolina State Community Theater – Thalian Association |publisher=Statesymbolsusa.org |access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref>  Here, five studios are available to nonprofit organizations for theatrical performances, rehearsals, musicals, recitals and art classes. For more than half a century, the Hannah Block Historic USO Building has facilitated the coming together of generations, providing children with programs that challenge them creatively, and enhance the quality of life for residents throughout the region.

The Hannah Block Second Street Stage is home to the Thalian Association Children's Theater.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thalian.org/index.php/Children-s-Theater/what-is-thalian-association-childrens-theater.html |title=What is TACT? &#124; Children's Theater |publisher=Thalian.org |access-date=May 21, 2013 |archive-date=June 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616024241/http://www.thalian.org/index.php/Children-s-Theater/what-is-thalian-association-childrens-theater.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>  It is one of the main attractions at the Hannah Block Community Arts Center. The theater seats 200 and is used as a performance venue by community theater groups and other entertainment productions.

The University of North Carolina at Wilmington College of Arts and Science departments of Theatre, Music and Art share a state-of-the-art, $34 million Cultural Arts Building, which opened in December 2006. The production area consists of a music recital hall, art gallery, and two theaters. Sponsored events include 4 theater productions a year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://appserv02.uncw.edu/caic/events-cultural.asp |title= UNCW - Office of Cultural Arts|website=appserv02.uncw.edu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930164058/http://appserv02.uncw.edu/caic/events-cultural.asp |archive-date=September 30, 2011}}</ref>

The Brooklyn Arts Center at St. Andrews is a 125-year-old building on the corner of North 4th Street and Campbell Street in downtown Wilmington. The Brooklyn Arts Center at Saint Andrews (BAC) is on the National Register of Historic Places. The BAC is used for weddings, concerts, fundraisers, art shows, vintage flea markets, and other community-driven events.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklynartsnc.com/index.php|title=Concerts, Weddings, Events in Wilmington, NC :: The Brooklyn Arts Center at St. Andrews, Wilmington, NC|access-date=April 28, 2017}}</ref>

Wilmington is home to the Wilmington Conservatory of Fine Arts, a studio for foundlings. The Wilmington Conservatory of Fine Arts is the only studio in the region to offer [[Progressing Ballet Technique]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Progressing Ballet Technique |url=https://pbt.dance/en/about |access-date=October 19, 2020 |website=pbt.dance}}</ref> instruction from two certified instructors. The Conservatory is also host to Turning Pointe Dance Company, a faith-based dance company, which performs artistic pieces such as "Pinocchio" for the Wilmington Community.<ref>{{cite web|date=November 18, 2019|title=Turning Pointe Dance Company's "Pinocchio"|url=https://www.life905.com/turning-pointe-dance-companys-pinocchio/|access-date=October 19, 2020|website=Life 90.5|language=en-US|archive-date=November 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124175118/https://www.life905.com/turning-pointe-dance-companys-pinocchio/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Film and television series===
[[File:EUE-Screen Gems Studios in Wilmington, North Carolina 3 (cropped).jpg|thumb|EUE/Screen Gems Studios (now Cinespace Wilmington) in November 2022]]
[[File:Wilmington, NC City Hall IMG 4364.JPG|thumb|Wilmington City Hall, with movie crews filming in July 2012]]
{{Main|Films and television shows produced in Wilmington, North Carolina}}
Wilmington is home to [[Cinespace Film Studios|Cinespace Wilmington]]. The city's prominent place in cinema throughout the 1980s and 1990s earned the city the moniker "Hollywood East". Popular television series like<ref name="ILMTelevison">{{Cite web |title=Television Filmed in Wilmington, NC |url=https://www.wilmingtonfilm.com/television/ |access-date=May 11, 2024 |website=Wilmington Regional Film Commission}}</ref> ''[[Matlock (1986 TV series)|Matlock]]'' (1986–1995), ''[[Dawson's Creek]]'' (1998–2003), ''[[One Tree Hill (TV series)|One Tree Hill]]'' (2003–2012), ''[[Eastbound & Down]]'' (2009–2013), ''[[Sleepy Hollow (TV series)|Sleepy Hollow]]'' (2013–2017), ''[[Under the Dome (TV series)|Under the Dome]]'' (2013–2015), ''[[Outer Banks (TV series)|Outer Banks]]'' (2020–present),<ref name="OBXPortCityDaily">{{Cite web |last=Carver |first=Shea |date=June 9, 2023 |title=Netflix's season 4 of 'Outer Banks' to film this summer in greater Wilmington area |url=https://portcitydaily.com/arts-and-culture/2023/06/09/netflixs-season-4-of-outer-banks-to-film-this-summer-in-greater-wilmington-area/ |access-date=February 11, 2024 |website=Port City Daily |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="OBXWECT">{{Cite web |author1=WECT Staff |last2=Crooms |first2=Reyna |date=November 16, 2023 |title=Season four of 'Outer Banks' to begin production in Wrightsville Beach |url=https://www.wect.com/2023/11/16/season-four-outer-banks-begin-production-wrightsville-beach/ |access-date=February 11, 2024 |website=WECT |language=en}}</ref> and ''[[The Summer I Turned Pretty (TV series)|The Summer I Turned Pretty]]'' (2022–present) were partially or fully filmed at the studio complex and on location throughout the city. Movies partially or fully shot in or near Wilmington include<ref name="ILMFilm">{{Cite web |title=Movies Filmed in Wilmington, NC |url=https://www.wilmingtonfilm.com/feature-film/ |access-date=May 11, 2024 |website=Wilmington Regional Film Commission}}</ref> ''[[Firestarter (1984 film)|Firestarter]]'' (1984), ''[[Blue Velvet (film)|Blue Velvet]]'' (1986), ''[[Maximum Overdrive]]'' (1986), ''[[Weekend at Bernie's]]'' (1989), ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990 film)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' (1990), ''[[Super Mario Bros. (film)|Super Mario Bros.]]'' (1993), ''[[Radioland Murders]]'' (1994), ''[[The Crow (1994 film)|The Crow]]'' (1994),<ref>Barth, Jack (1991)</ref> ''[[I Know What You Did Last Summer]]'' (1997), ''[[The Conjuring]]'' (2013), ''[[Iron Man 3]]'' (2013), ''[[Safe Haven (film)|Safe Haven]]'' (2013), ''[[We're the Millers]]'' (2013),<ref>''Roadside Hollywood: The Movie Lover's State-By-State Guide to Film Locations, Celebrity Hangouts, Celluloid Tourist Attractions, and More''. Contemporary Books. Pages 173–175. {{ISBN|9780809243266}}.</ref> ''[[The Black Phone]]'' (2021), ''[[Halloween Kills]]'' (2021), and ''[[Scream (2022 film)|Scream]]'' (2022). Actor [[Brandon Lee]] was killed after an accidental shooting during the filming of ''The Crow''.<ref>{{cite web | title=The brief life and unnecessary death of Brandon Lee | website=EW.com | date=April 16, 1993 | url=https://ew.com/article/1993/04/16/brief-life-and-unnecessary-death-brandon-lee/ | access-date=July 15, 2020}}</ref>

Since 1995, Wilmington hosts an annual, nationally recognized, independent film festival called "[[Cucalorus Film Festival|Cucalorus]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cucalorus.org |title=Annual Festival of Independent Film |publisher=Cucalorus |access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref> It is the keystone event of The Cucalorus Film Foundation, a non-profit organization. The Foundation also sponsors weekly screenings, several short documentary projects, and the annual Kids Festival, with hands on film-making workshops.

The Cape Fear Independent Film Network also hosts a film festival annually, and the Wilmington Jewish Film Festival also takes place yearly.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wilmingtonjff.org/history/|title=History of the WJFF|website=Wilmington Jewish Film Festival|language=en-US|access-date=March 19, 2019|archive-date=October 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022014334/http://www.wilmingtonjff.org/history/|url-status=dead}}</ref> For several years Wilmington was also the location of fan conventions for [[One Tree Hill (TV series)|One Tree Hill]], reuniting the cast and drawing tourists to the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.starnewsonline.com/news/20181205/eyecons-one-tree-hill-reunion-conventions-to-end|title=EyeCon's 'One Tree Hill' reunion conventions to end|author=Hunter Ingram StarNews Staff|website=Wilmington Star-News|language=en|access-date=March 19, 2019}}</ref>

In 2014, Governor [[Pat McCrory]] decided not to renew the film incentives, which ended up taking a massive toll on not just Wilmington's but North Carolina's entire film industry.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-onlocation-north-carolina-20140827-story.html |title=North Carolina cutting film tax credit program |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=August 27, 2014 |access-date=May 29, 2018}}</ref> As a result, most productions and film businesses moved to other cities, especially to [[Atlanta, Georgia]]. For the years following, were many attempts to bring the industry back to North Carolina via the North Carolina Film and Entertainment Grant. This grant designates $31 million per fiscal year (Jul 1 – Jun 30) in film incentives.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.filmnc.com/25-rebate.html |title=Film Incentives |publisher=North Carolina Film Office |access-date=May 29, 2018}}</ref>

In the early 2020s, after the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 lockdowns]] and changes to state legislation, filming in the city began to increase again, with 2021 being the biggest year to date for both the city's film industry as well as the whole film industry at large in North Carolina.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |last=Dean |first=Korie |date=August 22, 2022 |title=From talkies to tax credits: A timeline of the film industry in North Carolina |url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article259199313.html |access-date=January 14, 2024 |website=The News & Observer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Woods |first=Kiley |date=January 14, 2021 |title=Wilmington's film industry makes a comeback after COVID-19 lockdown |url=https://theseahawk.org/30117/culture/wilmingtons-film-industry-makes-a-comeback-after-covid-19-lockdown/ |access-date=May 28, 2023 |website=The Seahawk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=TOP STORIES: Biggest year ever for film industry |url=http://www.wilmingtonbiz.com/film/2021/12/17/top_stories_biggest_year_ever_for_film_industry/22681 |access-date=June 3, 2022 |website=WilmingtonBiz}}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite web |last=Cosgrove |first=Elly |date=December 31, 2021 |title=Wilmington's film industry enjoys record-breaking year |url=https://www.wect.com/2021/12/31/wilmingtons-film-industry-enjoys-record-breaking-year/ |access-date=January 20, 2024 |website=WECT |language=en}}</ref>

In 2022, [[Dark Horse Studios]]—which became Wilmington's second film studio in 2020—planned a 20-million-dollar expansion to their studio complex in Wilmington, set to be complete in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Dark Horse |url=https://darkhorsestudios.com/about/ |access-date=January 14, 2024 |website=darkhorsestudios.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=More space to film: Dark Horse Studios plans $20M expansion |url=http://www.wilmingtonbiz.com/film/2022/12/05/more_space_to_film_dark_horse_studios_plans_20m_expansion/23940 |access-date=December 8, 2022 |website=WilmingtonBiz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=WECT Staff |date=August 3, 2023 |title=Dark Horse Studios holds groundbreaking ceremony for two new sound stages |url=https://www.wect.com/2023/08/03/dark-horse-studios-holds-groundbreaking-ceremony-two-new-sound-stages/ |access-date=January 14, 2024 |website=WECT |language=en}}</ref>

On September 27, 2023, Cinespace Studios announced it had purchased the [[EUE/Screen Gems|EUE/Screen Gems Studios]] location in Wilmington.<ref name="Cinespace Studios">{{Cite web |last=WECT Staff |date=September 27, 2023 |title=Cinespace Studios buys EUE/Screen Gems studio in Wilmington |url=https://www.wect.com/2023/09/27/cinespace-studios-buys-wilmington-euescreen-gems-studio/ |access-date=September 28, 2023 |website=WECT |language=en}}</ref>

===Literature===
Birthplace of Johnson Jones Hooper (1815–1862), Author of the Simon Suggs Series.

Birthplace of Robert Ruark (1915–1965)

Now rare, an early edition of the Scottish poet [[Robert Burns]]'s "[[Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect]]" was printed by Bonsal and Niles of Market Street, Baltimore in 1804.

===Music===
Chamber Music Wilmington was founded in 1995 and presents its four-concert "Simply Classical" series every season. The concerts are performed by world-class chamber musicians and are held at UNCW's Beckwith Recital Hall.

The Wilmington Symphony Orchestra was established in 1971 and offers throughout the year a series of five classical performances, and a Free Family Concert.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wilmingtonsymphony.org/ |title=Wilmington Symphony Orchestra &#124; Wilmington NC |publisher=Wilmingtonsymphony.org |access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref>

One of the largest [[DIY]] festivals, the Wilmington Exchange Festival, occurs over a period of five days around [[Memorial Day]] each year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wefestival.com/ |title=Wilmington Exchange Festival for Art, Music and More |publisher=We Festival |access-date=May 21, 2013 |archive-date=July 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130718175759/http://wefestival.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Beginning in 1980, the North Carolina Jazz Festival is an annual three-day traditional jazz festival that features world-renowned jazz musicians.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://ncjazzfestival.org/about/ |access-date=August 31, 2024 |website=North Carolina Jazz Festival |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Cape Fear Blues Society is a driving force behind blues music in Wilmington. The organization manages, staffs and sponsors weekly Cape Fear Blues Jams and the annual Cape Fear Blues Challenge talent competition (winners travel to Memphis TN for the International Blues Challenge). Its largest endeavor is the Cape Fear Blues Festival, an annual celebration that showcases local, regional and national touring blues artists performing at a variety of events and venues, including the Cape Fear Blues Cruise, Blues Workshops, an All-Day Blues Jam, and numerous live club shows. Membership in the CFBS is open to listeners and musicians alike.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capefearblues.org |title=Cape Fear Blues Society – Wilmington, NC |publisher=Capefearblues.org |access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref>
{{Further|topic=the rock & roll band|Thunderlip}}

===Museums and historic sites===
[[File:USS North Carolina-27527.jpg|right|thumb|The [[USS North Carolina (BB-55)|USS ''North Carolina'' Battleship Memorial]], seen from downtown Wilmington, across the [[Cape Fear River]]]]
[[File:Railroad Museum in Wilmington, NC IMG 4452.JPG|right|thumb|The Railroad Museum is located behind the Hilton Hotel.]]
* [[Cameron Art Museum]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cameronartmuseum.com |title=Wilmington, NC |publisher=Cameron Art Museum |access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref>
* [[Bellamy Mansion|Bellamy Mansion Museum of History & Design Arts]]
* [[Cape Fear Museum of History and Science]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capefearmuseum.com |title=Cape Fear Museum |publisher=Cape Fear Museum |access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref>
* The Children's Museum of Wilmington<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.playwilmington.org |title=Welcome to the Children's Museum of Wilmington! |publisher=Playwilmington.org |access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref>
* [[First Baptist Church (Wilmington, North Carolina)|First Baptist Church]], founded in 1808
* [[First Presbyterian Church (Wilmington, North Carolina)|First Presbyterian Church]], historic Presbyterian church
* Grace [[United Methodist]] Church, founded in 1797
* Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome to the Hannah S. Block Community Arts Center |url=http://wilmingtoncommunityarts.org |access-date=April 28, 2017}}</ref>
* Latimer House Museum and Gardens<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Latimer House |url=https://latimerhouse.org/ |access-date=November 22, 2023 |website=latimerhouse.org}}</ref>
* [[St. James Episcopal Church (Wilmington, North Carolina)|St. James Episcopal Church]], oldest church in Wilmington
* [[Basilica Shrine of St. Mary (Wilmington, North Carolina)|St. Mary Catholic Church]], historic Roman Catholic church in Wilmington
* [[Sunset Park Historic District]]
* [[Temple of Israel (Wilmington, North Carolina)|Temple of Israel]], [[Oldest synagogues in the United States|oldest]] [[synagogue]] in North Carolina
* [[USS North Carolina (BB-55)#Memorial and museum|USS ''North Carolina'' Memorial]]
* Wilmington Railroad Museum<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wilmingtonrailroadmuseum.org|title=Wilmington Railroad Museum|access-date=April 28, 2017}}</ref>

The Second and Orange Street USO Club was erected by the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Army Corps of Engineers]] at a cost of $80,000. Along with an identical structure on Nixon Street for African-American servicemen, it opened in December 1941, the same month that the Japanese attacked [[Pearl Harbor]]. From 1941 to 1945, the USO hosted 35,000 uniformed visitors a week. Recently renovated with sensitivity to its historic character, the Hannah Block Historic USO (HBHUSO) lobby serves as a museum where World War II memorabilia and other artifacts are displayed. The building itself was rededicated in Ms. Block's name in 2006 and restored to its 1943 wartime character in 2008. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The World War II Wilmington Home Front Heritage Coalition,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wilburjones.com/world-war-two-wilmington-coalition |title=WWII Wilmington Home Front Heritage Coalition – Wilbur Jones Compositions, L.L.C |publisher=Wilburjones.com |access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref> an all volunteer 501(c)(3) preservation organization, is the de facto preservationist of the building's history and maintains the home front museum.

===Festivals===
Wilmington is host to many annual festivals, including, most notably, the [[North Carolina Azalea Festival|Azalea Festival]].  The Azalea Festival, sponsored by the Cape Fear Garden Club, features a garden tour, historic home tour, garden party, musical performances, a parade, and a fireworks show.  It takes places every year in April.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 20, 2020 |title=NC Azalea Festival {{!}} Art, Gardens, Culture {{!}} Wilmington, NC |url=https://ncazaleafestival.org/ |access-date=June 2, 2022 |website=ncazaleafestival.org |language=en-US}}</ref>