Hickory Playground was created by Dylan Tashjian, Jordan Makant, and Robert Fuller to celebrate creativity and support arts education in public schools in Catawba County, North Carolina.
Robert Fuller, Dylan Tashjian, and Jordan Makant celebrate the successful launch of the First Annual Hickory Playground Gala for the Arts on June 2, 2018.
The Inaugural Hickory Playground took place over a 48-hour period from July 21-23, 2016. More than 250 people came to the SALT Block's Drendel Auditorium in Hickory, North Carolina, to watch eight original one-act plays performed for the very first time. By the end of the night, thanks to our incredible sponsors and audience, we raised $6,000, half of which we gave to Hickory High School's Art Department, and the other half to St. Stephen's High School's Art Department.
Cofounder Dylan Tashjian poses with an awesome middle schooler after handing out oversized checks!
Since that 48-hour period, the Hickory Playground has transitioned from a project three teenagers created to help their community, to an arts advocacy organization dedicated to promoting new artists, arts education, and arts experiences. Every July, the Annual Hickory Playground Theater/Arts Festival brings together original playwrights and numerous actors to create a series of 10-minute-or-less plays and musicals for a one-night-only crowd at the SALT Block’s Drendel Auditorium.
Additionally, when we are able, we put together an “annual” Gala for the Arts to honor the visual and musical arts. Local visual artists come together to sell their work, local musicians come to perform and sing, and people from all around Hickory, Catawba County, North Carolina, and the country come to enjoy small plates and beverages, dance, and celebrate the arts. We have had the great pleasure of hosting three of these galas to date in one of our wonderful sponsors’ spaces: Fanjoy Labrenz Studio.
Since 2016, we at Hickory Playground have worked with over 200 artists, produced 45 original plays, and donated more than $75,000 to public arts education in Catawba County, North Carolina and beyond. As we continue to expand our programming and our outreach, we are always looking for great new ideas and projects. Want to be a part of our story? There is always room at the table.
If you are interested and able to contribute in any way, please feel free to contact us.
Hickory Playground's support is the only reason we're able to do a musical this year!
-- Alison Andrews, Drama Teacher at Bandy's High School
