Arts+ Events

Your support goes directly to all the programs that were part of Henry Bridges' original vision to make sure no one is turned away from music and visual art because of an inability to pay. Thank you to everyone who made a gift, and a BIG thank you to our generous, anonymous supporter who provided a $10,000 matching gift.

Arts+ was founded as Community School of the Arts in 1969 by Henry Bridges, the organist and choir director of the First Presbyterian Church in Uptown Charlotte. He envisioned the program after realizing the church had 15 unused pianos in its basement and was surrounded by an urban neighborhood with children who could benefit from—but could not afford—high quality music lessons.

In the inaugural year, Henry recruited four of the finest piano teachers in Charlotte and accepted 20 children from more than 150 applications. Students received instruction free of charge five days a week, learning through private lessons, supervised practice, choir, sight singing, and music theory.

Henry Bridges remained the executive director until 1982, when he stepped away from administrative duties to become a full-time piano teacher for the organization. Henry retired from teaching in 1992 but remained a lifetime member of the Board of Directors until he passed away in March 2018.