Sherri Holmes is the Founder and Director of the Triangle Friends of African American Arts, an organization that strives to expand awareness, understanding and support of African American arts and artists. The Triangle Friends of African American Arts (Triangle FAAA) increases awareness of African American and African arts through online marketing as well as community outreach and engagement. Triangle FAAA also presents cultural events and dance workshops for children.

In 2017, Triangle FAAA engaged 1,800 individuals at 46 performances and cultural events that featured African American arts and artists. These included art exhibitions, dance performances, concerts, opera, lectures and theater. Triangle FAAA also hosted four free community events. In addition, Triangle FAAA performed outreach at ten festivals and performing arts events including the African American Cultural Celebration and the Stagville Harvest Festival.

Triangle FAAA collaborated with local arts organizations and Triangle-area convention and visitors bureaus to launch Art & Soul, a year-long initiative that increased the visibility of African American arts in the Triangle. In November, Triangle FAAA was featured in the “Triangle Gives” section of the Raleigh News & Observer.

In addition to her work with Triangle FAAA, Holmes has served on the boards of several arts and cultural organizations, including the St. Joseph's Historic Foundation-Hayti Heritage Center, the Mallermé Chamber Players, and the African American Cultural Celebration at the North Carolina Museum of History. She also served on the operating support grants panel for the City of Raleigh Arts Commission and spent several years as the Executive Committee Chair of an African and African American art affiliate group at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Holmes has a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Master in Business Administration from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina.

Holmes has been greatly influenced by the accomplishments of her parents. Her father was the first African American to graduate from North Carolina State University. Her mother was a trustee of the NC Museum of Art and a founding board member of the Carolina Ballet.

Holmes authors a blog about African American arts and culture, and her work has appeared in the Durham Colored Library’s Merrick-Washington magazine, Spectacular magazine, the Museum of Durham History’s website, and the Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau website. She has appeared on The State of Things at WUNC and the Spectacular magazine radio show. Holmes acts as an advisor to arts organization that seek to increase diversity among their audiences, and she recently helped to organize, and served on, a panel about diversity in the arts for the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre.

[Adapted from a piece submitted by the honoree.]