The Graham Johnson Cultural Arts Endowment (GJCAE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the Wake Forest community through arts education, public art, and cultural initiatives. Founded in memory of Graham Johnson, whose creative spirit continues to inspire our work, we believe creativity strengthens communities, builds confidence, and connects people across generations and backgrounds.
Through strategic partnerships with local schools, artists, volunteers, and community leaders, we help bring meaningful arts experiences to life.
Supporting Arts Education
Research consistently shows that arts education improves academic achievement, encourages critical thinking, and fosters collaboration. Therefore, we support programs that integrate the arts into classroom learning and extracurricular opportunities. Through grants to schools the GJCAE assists schools with bringing artists to schools and to the classroom, thereby enhancing the quality of the learning and by increasing the participation of the student in his or her own education.
Today more than ever, students are at risk of getting lost in the system and art can be a lifeline to capture the attention of a struggling student who may not fit into the traditional model of lecture and memorization. Art brings education alive and offers opportunities for developing talent, self esteem and cooperation. Through programs we sponsor in schools we facilitate the connection between schools and communities. While schools focus on teaching students to perform well on a test, the arts can teach a student to be creative, to think outside the box, to be a part of a community, to be a good friend, student and citizen.
By investing in creative learning environments, we help students build confidence, self-expression, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
The mural pictured below involved high school students from Franklin Academy working with a professional artist, studying the history of their own community, evaluating what makes their community special and working collaboratively to design and complete the project. This mural can be seen on display in downtown Wake Forest on the south wall of The Cotton Company building. Other programs supported in schools include writers-in-residence, storytelling, theatre programs, opera, brass bands and more.
Public Art & Community Engagement
Public art transforms shared spaces into places of inspiration. From murals and installations to live performances and cultural events, GJCAE works to create vibrant experiences that celebrate creativity and community.
Our initiatives encourage residents and visitors alike to connect, participate, and contribute to a thriving local culture.
Vision
Vibrant communities with public art, festive events, live musicians and sharing of ethnic cultures…
Schools that integrate art into learning and reach all students, fostering self esteem, connection to the community and cooperation…
Volunteers, working together to make their community a better place to live, work and play; donating time, treasure and talent to improve the world around them…
This is the vision of the Graham Johnson Cultural Arts Endowment…
Creating. Connecting. Thriving.
Please join us!
