NC State LIVE’s 2020/21 Poster by Dare Coulter

In this time of uncertainty, the NC State LIVE team was eager to find a way to connect with our audiences. Without being able to come together in shared space, we thought a poster would be a tangible way to connect in the real world, beyond our screens – something for you to hang on your wall and feel the joy of live performance. We wanted this poster to reflect the times we’re living in, but also be a beacon of hope for the future. With these goals in mind, we commissioned NC State alumna Dare Coulter to paint a work that would become our 2020/21 season poster, mailed out in early fall as a gift to our community.

Those who attended The Nile Project in 2017 may remember the incredible mural by Dare Coulter, painted in collaboration with audience members at the outdoor concert on Stafford Commons (see image below). Through her unwavering generosity and uncompromising talent, Dare has since worked her way into our hearts.

Perhaps you’ve seen Coulter’s depiction of Nina Simone, commissioned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, or witnessed her 200-foot mural in Greensboro honoring Black cowboys.

Dare’s mission is to give life to large and unapologetic depictions of Black joy. It was precisely for this reason that we commissioned her to create a poster to represent our 2020-21 season. This is a time for us to celebrate Black artists while we come together to create a shared future – a just and vibrant world where all are free and all are thriving. Dare’s painting titled “The Things Dreams are made of” does just that. Read more about our 2020/21 season.