Creativity rules at Cain Center for the Arts! Since the curtain first went up in 2023, the venue has achieved its aspirations to present exceptional visual arts, performing arts and social experiences to residents of the Lake Norman community.
Cain Center honors education, inspiration and entertainment as its guiding values. Founding Executive Director Justin Dionne believes a varied repertoire of events, along with creative learning and an amazing art gallery onsite, creates a unique approach to the arts in the Lake Norman region.
“We’re thrilled to offer the community an array of diverse programming – from theater, to dance, to comedy, to all genres of music. Between our exciting performing arts season, our rotating and innovative art galleries and our much-loved arts education classes for both youth and adults, we’ve been able to serve more than 15,000 people in the Lake Norman community in just our first year,” said Justin.
With a vibrant performing arts series, the center promises something magical for everyone in the next few months!
February 24: Sons of Mystro (brothers and rising stars who use their violins to interpret reggae classics, American pop songs and their own creations)
March 15: Socks in the Frying Plan (an award-winning trio from County Clare, Ireland, the hub of Irish traditional music)
April 26: Comedian Karen Morgan (Karen got her start on Nickelodeon’s Search for the Funniest Mom in America!)
May 11: Buckets N Boards (Hilarious, high-energy percussion at its best)
From February 29 – March 2, don’t miss Be More Chill, the first performance of a brand-new initiative that pairs the area’s most skilled theatre students together with a challenging piece of musical theater, resulting in a unique staged concert.
“The uniqueness of Cain Center for the Arts allows us a distinct opportunity to make an impact in the Lake Norman region,” said Justin. “We’re so pleased to have been able to work with so many community partners over the last several years to make this project a reality, and we’ve got great things in store for the years to come!”
The center’s Community Impact Programs are varied ranging from teaching a candle-making workshop for seniors, to hosting a holiday event for students from the Ada Jenkins Center, or providing free tickets to performances. Those efforts are constantly expanding as the Cain Center team learns more about what its neighbors want to see – and how the venue can provide the most impact.
The beauty of Cain Center for the Arts is the many ways you can be involved – as an artist, student, volunteer or audience member! Programs for all ages and tastes make that possible, and local contributions are an essential component of the overall annual operations, as well as keeping ticket prices affordable.
Show support by becoming a Friend of Cain Center, a group that supports all programs including arts education for youth and adults, summer camps for youth and diverse visual art exhibits, including bringing world-class artists and established regional arts groups to the Cain Center stage. You can also purchase a personalized engraved brick to be permanently installed at the center’s outdoor plaza. Or, contact the center about sponsoring classes, concerts, exhibits and other events, and receive recognition throughout the year
Always bustling with creative energy, Cain Center for the Arts is located at 21348 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, NC, 980.689.3101 (in-person lobby and gallery hours are Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm, class and performance hours vary by program). Some classes are held at the Cornelius Art Center, including ceramics, at 19725 Oak Street, Suite 1, in Cornelius (in-person gallery hours are Monday-Tuesday 10am-4pm, Wednesday 10am-1pm, class hours vary by program). Learn more about upcoming events at cainarts.org, and follow them on Facebook and Instagram @caincenterforthearts.
