FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Cumberland County Public Library received a $12,000 Project Support Grant from the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County on May 14, 2025 for the 17th annual Storytelling Festival, set for March 1 – 31, 2026.
This free, month-long festival will be a celebration of imagination, nature and the art of storytelling. The festival intends to delight audiences of all ages with blooming realms of wonder and whimsy. From mythical creatures hidden among flower beds to tales spoken by ancient trees, the Enchanted Gardens theme invites storytellers and listeners alike to explore the power of stories rooted in nature and magic.
"The theme Enhanced Gardens will spark connections with the natural world through folklore, fairytales and personal stories that are full of imagination," said Faith Phillips, Cumberland County Assistant County Manager and Library Director. “Whether you're a long-time storytelling fan or discovering the magic for the first time, next year’s festival promises to be a truly enchanted experience.”
Project Support Grants increase opportunities for access to arts, cultural and historical programming in Cumberland County. The grants are awarded to nonprofit agencies, institutions of higher education and municipal entities in Cumberland County that demonstrate financial and administrative stability.
About the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County:
The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization based in Fayetteville, North Carolina that connects our communities, embraces diversity, promotes individual creativity, advances economic development and fosters lifelong learning through the arts. As a primary steward of public and private funding for arts, cultural and historical activities in the Cape Fear Region, all affiliated programs of the Arts Council exemplify our five core values: Excellence, Accountability, Transparency, Collaboration and Innovation. https://www.theartscouncil.com/
In the 2025-2026 year, the Arts Council distributed more than $1 million in grant funds and special allocations to Cumberland County artists, nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education and municipal offices producing arts and cultural activities.
Grants, programs and services of the Arts Council are funded in part by contributions from community partners, and through grants from the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County and the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources.
Learn more about Cumberland County Public Library at cumberlandcountync.gov/library or call 910-483-7727. Follow the library on social media @CumberlandCountyPublicLibrary or @CCPLNC.