UNC Schools of the Arts said it has received a $5.3 million gift from longtime supporters Michael and Joy Rave — the largest single gift to support libraries in its history.
UNCSA said the main campus library will be renamed as the Joy and Michael Rave Library and Learning Commons. The Raves are from New Bern.
The gift comes as the UNCSA Library celebrates the 10-year anniversary of its opening on Sept. 24.
The Raves’ gift includes current-use funds, an endowment and an estate gift. The library will begin to transition to its new name over the course of the next year, with an official renaming celebration tentatively scheduled for fall 2026.
The gift will directly support enhanced library programming and resources, including a wide range of events and workshops for the campus and community, updated technology, a sensory space for students, and expanded loanable tech offerings from the library’s MakerSpace, such as lighting equipment, green screens, and wellness and focus tools like white-noise machines.
“We are moved and delighted by this transformative gift from Joy and Michael,” UNCSA Chancellor Brian Cole said in a news release.
Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts
“Libraries are such important places in our society, and their gift will help bring artists together and provide vital spaces and programs for their intellectual and artistic growth.
“The Raves are giving us the resources we need to reimagine the role of libraries in a 21st century arts conservatory.”
The Raves discovered UNCSA and Winston-Salem when their daughter, Anastasia, attended the high school program at UNCSA for classical guitar.
“We fell in love with the city and fell in love with the school,” Joy Rave said.
“We got to know students from different programs, and they were all so unique and came from all backgrounds, and at UNCSA, they found a place where they belonged.”
Dr. Michael Rave is a cardiologist and U.S. Army veteran who spent 30 years in various medical roles in the military, including as director of medical education and director of clinical research.
Michael Rave said that “our gift is rooted in our love for UNCSA, the Winston-Salem community and the artists who work every day to elevate the arts and refine their skills on the university’s campus.
“The school is so unique in its mission, with students from different disciplines all in one place to convene and talk to each other and feed off each other. The synergy is exciting. We see the library as a fulcrum for that convening.”
rcraver@wsjournal.com
336-727-7376
@rcraverWSJ
Love
0
Funny
0
Wow
0
Sad
0
Angry
0
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.
* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Richard Craver
Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
Your notification has been saved.
There was a problem saving your notification.
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Followed notifications
Please log in to use this feature
Log In
Don’t have an account? Sign Up Today