Artists, volunteers and members of the Stanly arts community celebrated the opening of new displays at the Stanly County History Museum to celebrate 50 years of the Stanly County Arts Council.

Arts Council Board Chairman David Cartrette gave opening remarks before a ribbon cutting Wednesday to celebrate the opening of the displays.

Dolly Levi’s Harmonia Gardens gown from the Uwharrie Players’ 1984 production of “Hello, Dolly!” is on display in downtown Albemarle. (Photo by CHARLES CURCIO/staff)

In the museum, displays housed memorabilia from volunteer arts organizations, including the Stanly County Arts Guild, the Stanly County Concert Association, The Stanly County Concert Band, The Talent Company youth theater group, the Stanly County Chorale, the City Youth Ballet and the Uwharrie Players community theater group.

The head from “The Nutcracker” is on display from the City Youth Ballet. The item is part of the “Fifty Years of Cultivating Creativity” exhibit at the Stanly County History Museum. (Photo by CHARLES CURCIO/staff)

Memorabilia from Badin jazz legend Lou Donaldson and former “American Idol” competitor Kellie Pickler have been loaned to the history museum from the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame for the exhibit, including the Monique Lhuiller dress Pickler wore in her music video, “Didn’t Know I Loved You.”

The exhibit, which opened with a ribbon cutting Wednesday, also includes items from Kellie Pickler. The former “American Idol” contestant and country singer’s Monique Lhuiller dress she wore in her “Didn’t Know I Loved You” music video is on loan from the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. (Photo by CHARLES CURCIO/staff)

“I was pleasantly surprised with the number of people who showed up, even on a rainy day,” Cartrette said. “It is a very clear demonstration that the arts are important to many people in the county. … It is a social fabric.”

Cartrette said the arts are “an integral part of any functional society, including Albemarle and Stanly County.”