Coming Together for CAM

May’s Design NC program to support art museum focuses on ‘Beauty Outside & In’

By Judy Royal

Cameron Art Museum (CAM) has been working on its 2025 Design NC fundraiser since last fall, but plans are kicking into high gear as the May 8-9 program approaches. The popular luncheon – Design NC’s feature event – will showcase speakers exploring the theme of “Beauty Outside & In.”

Janie Molster of Janie Molster Designs in Richmond, VA, and Laurie Durden of Laurie Durden Garden Design in Charlotte will discuss their experiences in the field of design, followed by attendees enjoying a seated lunch.

“Each speaker has such a different personality that it gives each presentation a different feel,” says Sissy Schoettelkotte, head of the Design NC committee. “This is a great event for anyone with an interest in interior design or landscape architecture, anyone who loves the museum, anyone new to town wanting to get a feel for Wilmington. It’s a wonderful meeting place for those interested in connecting.”

Established in 1990, Janie Molster Designs is an interior design firm based in Richmond, VA, with a portfolio of work that spans the mid-Atlantic and across the Southeast. Clients appreciate her well-honed discovery process, which focuses on their ideas of what’s possible and expands on them. 

Molster says she is looking forward to being in Wilmington to support CAM and hopes luncheon attendees will come armed with questions following her presentation.

“I spoke to a lot of groups during my book tour for my book House Dressing and have had fun rebooting my topics,” she says. “This is all new material and a whole new focus. I've learned what attendees want and will do my best to provide takeaways – something they can take back home and apply in their own homes, the real scoop – not just the pretty pictures but the ride along the way to get a project to a pretty picture – and also inspiration. Uplifting design images can be transporting. I'll be sharing all new imagery from recent projects, some of which haven't been seen before.”

Laurie Durden Garden Design is based in Charlotte, specializing in landscape architecture and garden design that marries form and function. Durden has a graduate degree in landscape architecture from the University of Virginia’s School of Architecture, studied art history as an undergraduate and credits travel with her appreciation for a wide range of styles. 

Durden says she is honored and flattered that those involved with Design NC want to hear what she has to say, and she thinks her presentation will be a good way to reflect and give back.

“I plan to talk about the path to how I became interested in landscape architecture, larger projects I’ve worked on and my garden,” she says. “Once you have the structure of the garden and plan in place, the real joy is in the moment and being able to see the moments, see the passage of time through gardens. There’s just a lot of magic in gardens, and if I can impart that to anyone, I’d like to be able to do that and share what I’ve learned over 30 years.”

Founded in 2019, Design NC is dedicated to the art of design and decorative crafts. The educational outreach and financial support program features internationally recognized designers and artisans, offering inspiring talks, hands-on experiences and networking opportunities. Design NC’s proceeds help CAM’s mission and programs; in fact, it is the museum’s second-largest fundraiser.

Design NC is especially important to CAM, which – unlike many museums – does not have the support of an umbrella organization. Years ago, volunteers saw the success of luncheons at other museums and thought it could work here.

“We had a group of designers, design enthusiasts, artisans and art lovers who wanted to put something together in our city,” says CAM Executive Director Heather Wilson. “Design NC supports educational programming and also includes funding for outreach programs.”

Over the past year, CAM continued its mission as a cultural gathering place enriching the lives of museum visitors and the community at large. CAM welcomed over 70,000 visitors, including over 8,000 children, which is the highest number of visitors in 62 years. The museum presented 10 exhibitions, 76 multidisciplinary programs and 131 classes, workshops and camps. CAM conducted 125 tours of visitors of all ages and abilities, including Connections tours for people living with dementia and their caregivers and the Art Enhances Health art and meditation classes for cancer patients. CAM is an economic driver paying over $190,000 to working artists, and the museum’s impact on New Hanover County is over $6.9 million. CAM relies on members, a community of donors and fundraising events for its financial support.

“Art is a human necessity that brings people together and helps to bring the world together,” Wilson says. “We run on the passion of our community.”

To expand on the popularity of the Design NC luncheon, which is expected to sell out in advance, the program has added other opportunities for those who want to offer their support to CAM.

A cocktail party, held the night before the luncheon, offers a lively evening for design industry influencers and Wilmington tastemakers to mix and mingle while enjoying live entertainment and an open bar. 

“A lot of people can’t come during the day because of work, so this is a good way to get people’s foot in the door and support the museum if they can’t come to the luncheon,” Schoettelkotte says. 

CAM is also focusing on growing its sponsorship program, including an education sponsorship that is new this year. This will allow speakers to visit GLOW Academy, a Wilmington public charter school that educates young women from diverse background through middle and high school.

“It gives students a really exciting way to connect with someone who is using their art skills in really concrete ways,” Wilson says. “I think it’s important for students to learn about different career paths that they can have. These conversations can send a young person forward into a path that will inform their choices for the rest of their lives.”

As the only art museum east of Interstate 95 and an inclusive gathering place for the entire region, CAM is an organization worthy of support, and getting involved with Design NC on any level is a great way to do that, Schoettelkotte adds.

“To me, art is so important and having a place where you can experience it and children can go see it at a young age is crucial,” she says. “If we don’t support it, it’s not going to be there for us.”

The event will take place May 8th, with a cocktail party from 5pm-8pm, and May 9th, with a forum and luncheon from 8:30am-2pm, at CAM.  Visit cameronartmuseum.org/design-nc for details, tickets and sponsorship information.