Town guide · Piedmont
Winston-Salem
A Piedmont Triad city formed when Moravian Salem and tobacco-era Winston merged, home to Old Salem, UNC School of the Arts and the first U.S. arts council.
36.1° N · -80.26° W · Forsyth County
CRay Arts IndexGrade · see the report card ↓The town
About Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is the Forsyth County seat in the northwestern Piedmont Triad. Moravians began building Salem in 1766 and Winston was laid out in 1849 as the seat of the new county. The two towns officially became one city in 1913. Tobacco and textiles, led by R. J. Reynolds and Hanes, built the city, and the 1929 Reynolds Building served as a prototype for the Empire State Building. Health care, education and research now matter more, and the Innovation Quarter anchors the east end of downtown. Moravian ways endure in the Easter sunrise service and the Moravian stars hung at Christmas. In 1949 the city founded the nation’s first arts council. Old Salem, Reynolda House, NCMA Winston-Salem, UNC School of the Arts, the Winston-Salem Symphony, Piedmont Opera, the National Black Theatre Festival and the RiverRun International Film Festival are all here. Source: Wikipedia
Events in Winston-Salem
On in town this week
Every art form on one list, each in its own color. Sample events — illustrative dates
All Winston-Salem eventsPlaces by art form
Where to go in Winston-Salem
Venues, companies, guilds and more, by art form.
Search everything in Winston-SalemMusic
All →- The GarageLive music venue
- Bar NolaLive music venue
- MonstercadeLive music venue
- Anchor Coffee Co Winston-SalemLive music venue
- The WerehouseLive music venue
- Ziggy'sLive music venue
- Joymongers Barrel HallLive music venue
- Hoots Beer Co.Live music venue
- The DenLive music venue
- Earl'sLive music venue
- Foothills BrewpubLive music venue
- Foothills FootnoteLive music venue
- The RamkatLive music venue
- Tate's Craft CocktailsLive music venue
- Stevens CenterLive music venue
- RoarLive music venue
- Recreation Billiards/ Whiskey BoxLive music venue
- North Carolina Museum of Art Winston-SalemLive music venue
- MonstercadeLive music venue
- Foothills Tasting RoomLive music venue
- Salem College Elberson Fine Arts CenterPerforming arts center
- Stevens Center (UNCSA)Theatre
- Reynolds AuditoriumCollege / university auditorium
- Muddy Creek Cafe & Music HallListening Room
- MonstercadeBar with Live Music
- Milton Rhodes Center for the ArtsArts center
- Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial ColiseumArena
- Foothills Brewing Tasting RoomBrewery, Winery & Taproom
- Bull's TavernBar with Live Music
- Test PatternBar with Live Music
- The GarageBar with Live Music
- The Millennium CenterEvents Venue
- Delta Arts CenterArts center
- SkaydiscothequeNCMusic Club
- Ziggy'sMusic Club
- Wise Man BrewingBrewery, Winery & Taproom
- Winston-Salem Fairgrounds AnnexArena
- The RamkatBar with Live Music
- Bailey ParkAmphitheatre
- Winston Salem Choral AcademyPerforming Group
- Piedmont Wind SymphonyPerforming Group
- Triad Chamber Music SocietyPerforming Group
- Letters From HomePerforming Group
- Winston Salem Community BandPerforming Group
- Vox Humana IncPerforming Group
- Cooper Alan FoundationPerforming Group
- Southside StringsPerforming Group
- Oak Grove High School Vocal Arts BoostersPerforming Group
- Carolina Music Ways Music Heritage Resource GroupPerforming Group
- Forecast Music IncorporatedPerforming Group
- Mozart ClubPerforming Group
- Salem BaroquePerforming Group
- Moravian Music Foundation IncPerforming Group
- Winston Salem Symphony AssocPerforming Group
- Music CarolinaPerforming Group
- Oak Grove Band Boosters IncPerforming Group
- Willie Mason EnterprisesPerforming Group
- Camel City Jazz Orchestra IncPerforming Group
- Piano Vs PovertyPerforming Group
- Twin City ChoristersPerforming Group
- The Basement Recording NC
- Ovation Sound
- ElectroMagnetic Radiation Recorders
- DrStudios
- Digital Lab Recordings
- Archrival Entertainment
- Innovative Sound Studio
- Infinite Studios
- Storyteller Sound
- Jamie King Audio
- The White Lodge
- Houze Of Phat Productions
- IAS Studios
- Drive-In Studio
- Dave McNair Mastering
- Salem Music & Academy of Music
- Hippo RecordsRecord store
- Guitar Center - Winston-SalemInstrument shop (new & used)
- Heyday GuitarsInstrument shop (new & used)
- Jackson's Music StoreInstrument shop (new & used)
- Music & Arts - Winston-SalemInstrument shop (new & used)
- The B String Guitar ShopInstrument shop (new & used)
- Underdog RecordsRecord store
- WXRI 91.3 MHz (Winston-Salem)
- WPOL 1340 kHz (Winston-Salem)
- WSNC 90.5 MHz (Winston-Salem)
- WFDD 88.5 MHz (Winston-Salem)
- WBFJ-FM 89.3 MHz (Winston-Salem)
- WWNT 1380 kHz (Winston-Salem)
- WTQR 104.1 MHz (Winston-Salem)
- WSJS 600 kHz (Winston-Salem)
- WPIP 880 kHz (Winston-Salem)
- WTOB 980 kHz (Winston-Salem)
- WPAW 93.1 MHz (Winston-Salem)
- WSMX 1500 kHz (Winston-Salem)
- WKZL 107.5 MHz (Winston-Salem)
- WBFJ 1550 kHz (Winston-Salem)
- A Light Divided
- New Start Records
- Salem Mill Records
- Hero Recording Company
- Phuzz Records
- Chugcore Records
- Chugcore International, Ltd.
- Justified Insanity Records
- Huel Records
- Mends Recordings
- Chugcore International
- Tompaul Music Co
Theater & Performance
All →- Winston Salem Theatre Alliance IncPerforming Group
- 40 Plus Stage CompanyPerforming Group
- Ephatha Theatre CompanyPerforming Group
- North Carolina Black Repertory Company IncPerforming Group
- Stained Glass Playhouse IncPerforming Group
- Spring TheatrePerforming Group
- Paper Lantern Theatre CompanyPerforming Group
- Winston Salem Performing Arts AlliancePerforming Group
- Play Play ProductionPerforming Group
- Little Theatre Of Winston Salem IncPerforming Group
Dance
All →Visual Arts
All →Craft & Traditional Arts
All →Literary Arts
All →Film & Media
All →Museums & Heritage
All →- The Winston Cup Museum Special Event Center
- Single Sisters' House Museum
- NCMA Winston-Salem (formerly SECCA)
- Reynolda HouseArt museum
- Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
- Children's Museum of Winston Salem
- KalediumChildren's museum
- Bethabara Visitor Center
- Hellfire Club IncOther
- Historic Ridge Westfield Elementary School IncCultural Heritage Organization
- Associated Artists Of Winston Salem IncMuseum
- Winston Salem African American ArchiveMuseum
- Forsyth County Fire Historical SocietyMuseum
- Forsyth Country Club Preservation FoundationOther
- Russell Benton Lee Jr Charitable Trust Uad 12102020Other
- Grand Lodge Of Nc Ioof Beaufort Museum & Archives IncMuseum
- Chinese Historians In The United StatesOther
- American College Of HeraldryOther
- C505 82 Nd Airborne ReactivatedOther
- Preserve Historic Forsyth IncCultural Heritage Organization
- AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR EIGHTEENTH CENTURY STUDIESCultural Heritage Organization
- HISTORIC BETHABARA PARKCultural Heritage Organization
- LEHIGH COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETYCultural Heritage Organization
- CHEROKEE-MORAVIAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONCultural Heritage Organization
- Old Salem IncorporatedMuseum
- KaleideumMuseum
- Oddfellows Reclamation CommitteeOther
- HIST PRESERVATION WILSON & DR BOBS TRCultural Heritage Organization
- Historic Oak CrestCultural Heritage Organization
Make it a weekend
More towns in Piedmont
Ray Arts Foundation · North Carolina
Report Card
Ray Arts Index · 2026
- Town
- Winston-Salem
- County
- Forsyth County
- Standing
- #26 of 60 graded towns
| Subject | Weight | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Local government supportExtra weightArts budget, arts office, grants, parks & rec arts | 18% | C |
| Arts educationExtra weightSchool district arts programs, arts schools and camps | 12% | C |
| Arts placesVenues, museums and galleries | 18% | D |
| ActivityArts events each month | 13.5% | C |
| FestivalsActive arts festivals | 13.5% | F |
| Arts organizationsArts nonprofits and their budgets | 13.5% | C |
| Creative economyArts businesses and working artists | 7% | C |
| HeritageLong-running arts institutions and history groups | 4.5% | Inc. |
Overall
C
HonorsNone yet
Marking scaleA 80+ · B 65+ · C 50+ (national typical) · D 35+ · F below 35 · Inc. not yet measured
Teacher’s remarks
The Ray Arts Index gives extra weight to local government support and arts education, because public investment in the arts, and in teaching it, is how creative communities grow.
For community leadersWhere Winston-Salem has the most room to grow, and the next steps that would raise its grade. Show the breakdownHide the breakdown
Where Winston-Salem has the most room to grow
- Festivals (grade F)
- Arts places (grade D)
- Local government support (grade C)
Next steps
- List every recurring arts festival with its dates, so it counts.
- Ask venues, museums and galleries to claim their listings and add seating capacity.
- Send us the adopted arts budget lines, grant programs and arts office details, so support is counted from evidence.
- Add founding years to long-running venues, festivals and arts groups.
- Request the full Winston-Salem advisory report from the Ray Arts Foundation.
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