oxford arts council
Our Story So Far...
Recognizing a community need for engaging with and encouraging the arts in Oxford, NC, Matt Cox and Aletha Williams put together a general interest meeting on January 20, 2024 at Tobacco Wood Brewing. Over forty people were in attendance at that first meeting, representing the arts in all of its diversity throughout Granville County: visual artists, musicians, vocalists, sculptors, actors, directors, performers, graphic artists, arts educators, writers, gallery and performance venue owners, patrons, and supporters of the arts.
There was one overwhelming message at this first meeting: as a community, we have a need not only to encourage each other to make more art, but to find ways to engage more folks with that art.
In April of 2024, leaders and volunteers worked together to create the first Oxford Art Walk. The event, featuring pop-up galleries, musical and dance performances, and live artist demonstrations, was an immediate success. The Art Walk, which is held downtown every second Thursday of the month from 5-8pm, has quickly become a staple of the Oxford social scene, attracting local families, artists, patrons, and curious passers-by.
That same month, a group of interested citizens got together to express their interest in creating an Arts Council. The group has formalized since then, formally filing as a non-profit organization in Granville County and attending the NC Legislature’s Arts Day, where council members met with representatives from Vance and Granville Counties to discuss how arts activities in our communities enhance economic development and benefit students in our local schools.
The future is bright as the Arts Council continues to move forward. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay abreast of exciting news, and check our calendar for arts activities, Art Walk information, and more!
Our Members
Members of the Oxford Arts Council represent a variety of skills, lived experience, and cultural backgrounds. Get to know the Board!
Click the arrows next to each name for a full bio.
Sarah Almond
Board Member
Matt Cox
Council President
Sherri M. Damon
Board Member
Betsy Henderson
Board Member
Katja Hill
Board Member
LeaLea Ivey
Board Member
Jimmy Johnson
Council Treasurer
Grace Kennedy
Council Secretary
Joseph Norris
Board Member
Harrison Preddy
Board Member
Board Member
Council President
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
A native of Charlotte, NC, Sarah Almond is a graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts and holds a BA in Literature and Language from The University of North Carolina at Asheville. While in Asheville, she performed the titular role in Shakespeare’s Macbeth as well The Narrator in The Vagina Monologues by V (formerly Eve Ensler).
After moving to New York City to work in the book publishing industry, Sarah was selected as a participant in the Letterpress Printing & Fine Press Publishing Seminar for Emerging Writers at The Center for Book Arts, where she was taught the finer points of letterpress printing and typesetting by printmakers including Peter Kruty and Barbara Henry of Bowne & Co. After apprenticing for several years, Sarah returned to North Carolina in 2010 to open her own letterpress and design company, Shed Letterpress, in Durham, NC. Sarah’s print designs have been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings and Vogue Knitting, as well as the blog of Garden & Gun magazine.
Sarah is a founding member of award-winning Coney Island dance troupe The Tailshakers—going strong since 2007!—and has collaborated with multiple performance artists she has met over the years, most notably puppeteer Sarah Lafferty, choreographer Renée Archibald, and visual artist Meg Stein.
Sarah moved to Oxford in January of 2021 and was immediately taken with the charm and warmth of the community. She now works remotely as a digital archivist for West Virginia University and is eager to support and promote the arts in Granville County and beyond.
Matt is a North Carolina native, with deep roots in Cabarrus County. Matt grew up in an artistic family, where his mother fostered a lifetime love of drawing, painting, and music with frequent visits to the (then) new and growing collections at Charlotte’s Mint Museum and performances at Ovens Auditorium.
Matt is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he studied both Art History with a focus on the Italian Renaissance, as well as Painting under the tutelage of Richard Kinnard and James Gadson. After his undergraduate degree, Matt continued his painting studies at the Pacific Northwest College of Art under the tutelage of Jack Portland. Matt has shown paintings in various galleries in the US— from Vancouver, WA to Pinehurst, NC. Most recently, he’s shown a series of new paintings in Oxford’s own Granville Museum. His paintings are in several private collections across the country.
Matt has a passion for connecting people to the Arts. As a habitual organizer, he’s happiest when he’s bringing people together to create something positive for the diverse community in which he lives.
Matt and his wife Grace live in Oxford, and they have four grown children.
A native of Winston-Salem, Sherri Marcia Damon attended local schools, and graduated high school at the UNC School of the Arts in 1983. She received her B.M. at the Cleveland Institute of Music, then served with Dr. Damon served with the US Navy Atlantic Fleet Band, Norfolk, VA. Later she received her master and doctoral degrees at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. During her doctoral studies, she premiered her arrangements of African-American spirituals with the UNCG Trombone Ensemble. These arrangements have since been performed by ensembles in the United States and Austria.
Dr. Damon has been a featured soloist, lecturer and arranger at the Eastern Trombone Workshop in Washington, D.C., and the UNCG North Carolina Trombone Festival; and has performed in local and regional orchestras, big bands and popular groups in North Carolina and Virginia. Now a resident of Oxford, she continues to play trombone as a member of the Vance-Granville Community Band, and the Trombone Consortium, an ensemble of musicians based in the Triangle region.
For twenty-seven years Dr. Damon has taught music in public schools and colleges, and served as guest conductor at district festivals, including the 2024 Vance-Granville Community College Middle School Honors Band. She currently teaches music with Vance County Schools, where she continues to share her love of making music with the next generation.
Betsy has an MFA in Acting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi. She serves as Department Chair of Fine Arts and Humanities at VGCC, where she was the 2005 Instructor of the Year. Betsy has also served as Director of VGCC Drama for the past 24 years. At VGCC, Betsy serves as Chair of the Academic Affairs and Judicial Committees, part of the DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging) Council, and a faculty co-sponsor for the student Let’s Get Back Together club. Betsy also serves as President of the NC AFA (Associate in Fine Arts) Board of Directors where she works with colleagues across the state to help advocate and strengthen the Fine Arts in NC community colleges and county Captain representing Vance and Granville counties as part of Arts Day NC in Raleigh. As an actress, Henderson has worked professionally with Raleigh Ensemble Players (REP), Burning Coal Theatre Company, North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, Theatre of the American South, Theatre Raleigh, Temple Theatre, and Justice Theatre Project. Henderson has toured nationally with productions of Miracle Worker (Annie Sullivan) and Diary of Anne Frank (Mrs. Frank). Her performance in REP’s Distracted in 2011 was recognized by the Independent Weekly as one of the Best Lead Performances of the year. She also has been the Creative Director for the Broadway and Beyond/Teen Works summer camps for 20 years. Betsy served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Granville Little Theatre—where she directed their Spring 2018 production of 9 to 5 the musical, and directed Henderson Rec Players’ 2017 summer production of To Kill A Mockingbird and 2018 production of Rumors at McGregor Hall. Her biggest passion is advocating for the Arts and Artists. Thank you for supporting both!
Katja Hill has over 20 years of experience in the arts and is an Emerging Artist Grant recipient from the Durham Arts Council. Appearances include PlayMakers Repertory Company, Manbites Dog Theater, Deep Dish Theater, the North Carolina Symphony, and The Brick (Brooklyn, NYC).
She was a TEDx speaker for her literary arts work in a hospital, and holds a BFA from the North
Carolina School of the Arts. Katja works at Duke University.
LeaLea Ivey was born in Oxford and has lived here for most of her life. She attended Saint Mary’s College and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Together with her late husband, Dave Ivey, LeaLea raised two children, June Manning and David Ivey.
LeaLea’s love of the arts is ongoing. She was on the Granville Little Theatre board for many years, and acted in several plays including Our Town and Everybody Loves Opal. In addition to these efforts, she also assisted in scenic design and painted many large 12 x 26 foot backdrops for the stage.
An enthusiastic painter, she has taken art lessons with Leslie Johnson, Pat Reagan, and Chad Hughes. She loves designing and needlepointing pillows and kneelers for local churches.
LeaLea’s life is fun and fulfilled with creative arts of all kinds.
Council Treasurer
Council Secretary
Board Member
Board Member
Joseph’s background in the arts is diverse and extensive, encompassing various disciplines and experiences. He has been actively involved in acting, directing, and stage management, having worked with esteemed institutions such as Playhouse in the Park, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Stage One, and After Images Repertory Theatre. Additionally, Joseph has honed his vocal abilities through participation in the Kentucky Youth Choir.
In the realm of visual arts, Joseph has explored sculpture, showcasing his work at notable galleries including Thomas Bruno Gallery in New Orleans, Orzo Gallery in Portsmouth, Virginia, and Litmus Gallery in Raleigh, North Carolina. His passion for sculpting extends to public art installations, evidenced by his contributions to Crabtree Sculpture in Raleigh, NC.
Joseph has also cultivated his skills in photography during his time at Western Kentucky University, where he captured moments and stories through the lens. Throughout his journey, he has engaged with fellow artists and enthusiasts, fostering creativity and growth within the Norfolk Drawing Group.
Overall, Joseph’s journey in the arts has been marked by a dedication to exploring and mastering various forms of expression, constantly seeking to push boundaries and evoke emotion through his work.
Harrison Teasley Preddy is a dedicated and passionate advocate for the arts in Granville County. Harrison, a Granville County native, obtained his Juris Doctorate from Campbell University School of Law and practices law locally as a Partner at Hicks, Preddy & Washburn, PC in Oxford. With his knowledge of the legal and regulatory issues that affect the arts community and his experience providing legal services to local artists and arts organizations, Harrison brings a unique perspective to the Council.
Harrison is a committed supporter of the local arts. He has been an active patron of different aspects of the arts in Oxford and Granville County for many years, having been, in early years, an active member of the performative arts community.
As a member of the Council, Harrison is dedicated to ensuring the long-term sustainability and growth of the arts in Oxford and Granville County. He brings a strategic and thoughtful approach to the Council’s goal of ensuring that all members of the community have access to high-quality arts programming.
Harrison is deeply committed to fostering collaboration between the Oxford Arts Council and other local arts organizations, as well as building strong partnerships with businesses and community leaders who share a similar passion for the arts.
Harrison is honored to have the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors for the Oxford Arts Council and he looks forward to contributing his expertise and passion for the arts to further the organization’s mission and impact in Oxford and Granville County.