It’s simple…make a phone call to the DREAMS office to set up an appointment with the program coordinator. Then, you can tour the Center, visit some classes and sit down for an interview to make sure the program is a good fit for you. A parent or guardian must accompany you on your visit to the Center. The next step will be to enroll you in the classes of your choice.

We begin accepting students at age eight and retain them through high school graduation.

DREAMS is not a drop-in center, though we certainly welcome visitors. Classes at the Center run on a semester basis, more or less following the New Hanover County traditional school schedule. Our classes are cumulative and meet on a weekly basis after school. We primarily enroll students at the beginning of each semester, though can sometimes make exceptions. Once you are enrolled in a class, you are expected to attend each week.

Generally, classes for students in elementary school meet from 3:30-4:30 PM, and classes for students in middle and high school meet from 4:30-6 PM. There are occasional weekend workshops and evening events such as Family Arts Nights.

Indeed we do. Our summer program meets for three weeks, typically during the month of June. We do not currently offer programming in July and August, as we utilize that time to plan for the fall semester.

Classes are free of charge for students who qualify for the New Hanover County Schools free or reduced lunch program. We verify students’ participation in the school nutritional program as part of our enrollment process. If a prospective student does not qualify for the free/reduced lunch program, all is not lost. In this case, we require a parent donation based on income. The average donation per semester is $50.

We are located at 515 Ann Street in downtown Wilmington, in a white church on the corner of 6th and Ann Streets. The actual entrance to the building is on Ann Street, up a small wooden ramp. Click here for a map.

DREAMS can be reached by email at dreamscenter@ec.rr.com,
by phone at (910) 772-1501, and by fax at (910) 772-1504.
Our mailing address is PO Box 363, Wilmington, North Carolina  28402.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide transportation at this time, but are conveniently located near the WAVE transit bus line. Additionally, we are within walking distance of Williston Middle and Gregory Elementary schools, New Hanover High School and St. Mary Catholic School.

DREAMS offers a wide range of classes in the literary, visual, performing and media arts. This includes poetry, drama, puppetry, improvisation, drumming, CD production, master class-level painting, mosaics, drawing, photography, filmmaking, African dance, ballet and much, much more. Click here for a list of programs.

DREAMS employs professional teaching artists who are dedicated to helping young people discover their creative abilities and talents. Many of our teaching artists are nationally acclaimed, and all of them provide a top-shelf educational and artistic experience. Click here for a list of faculty.

DREAMS offers classes at a range of outreach sites, including those that contract with us for a specific program. We always excited to hear from folks who are interested in expanding their students’ artistic experiences, and can custom-design a program for you based on the ages and needs of the youth involved. Typically, we charge a flat hourly rate to make this happen. Please contact our program coordinators for additional information.

We offer classes at the DREAMS Center (located in downtown Wilmington at 515 Ann Street) as well as at many outreach sites in New Hanover, Pender and Brunswick Counties. Typical outreach sites include schools, city recreation centers, public housing sites and after-school programs.

We are always looking for new teaching artists to join the DREAMS family. Our teaching artists are independent contractors who work anywhere from 1 to 10 hours per week, depending on class schedules. Teaching artists are compensated on an hourly rate, ranging from $15/hr-$30/hr. Qualifications include previous experience working with young people, a professional degree/comparable experience in your field, and a desire to get involved in a community-based arts education program. If this sounds like you, please give us a call.

DREAMS welcomes volunteers in a variety of capacities. Volunteers can help with special events, serve as classroom assistants, be on the DREAMS board, assist with administrative tasks…and the list goes on. Contact our program coordinators to find out how you can get involved.

We certainly do. Please contact us first to make sure that we can make use of the item in question. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.