University of North Carolina School of the Arts

The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA), located in Winston-Salem's historic Ardmore district, is the state's dedicated public arts conservatory and a member of the UNC system. Established in 1963 as the nation's first public arts conservatory, UNCSA operates both a residential high school and undergraduate/graduate programs across five distinct arts schools: Dance, Design & Production, Drama, Filmmaking, and Music. The campus features purpose-built facilities including performance venues, specialized studios, and technical workshops, with dedicated residence halls for both college and high school students. UNCSA maintains selective admission processes based primarily on artistic merit, requiring auditions or portfolio reviews for entry into all programs. The conservatory structure provides intensive, professionally-focused training in performing and visual arts disciplines while also incorporating standard academic coursework into the curriculum.