Arts Council Announces New Parking Management System at Spruce Street Parking Lot

Arts Council Announces New Parking Management System at Spruce Street Parking Lot

Winston-Salem, NC

Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County is excited to announce a new parking management system for the Spruce Street Parking Lot, set to take effect on Friday, April 4, 2025. We have partnered with Smart Park to improve the parking experience for visitors, staff, and guests at Arts Council while ensuring the efficient operation of the lot.

What’s Changing?

Starting April 4, 2025, Smart Park will begin monitoring parking payments at the Spruce Street Parking Lot through the Pay-By-Phone app. This app-based system uses cameras to automatically capture your vehicle’s license plate number as you enter and exit the lot, ensuring you only pay for the time you park.

For those who prefer not to use the app, a new, upgraded kiosk will be available for use, where visitors can input their license plate number to complete their payment. The kiosk will be maintained by a third-party service to ensure it functions smoothly, unlike the previous version

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Please note that parking payments will no longer be accepted at the concessions or front desk. All payments will be made either through the Pay-By-Phone app or the kiosk.

Updated Pricing Structure

Parking prices for events will remain unchanged, with no additional costs or fines for those who pay the event parking fee. However, during non-event hours, parking fees will be comparable to other nearby lots, with the following pricing structure:

• $2.25/hour: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM

• $3.50/hour: Evenings and weekends

• $7.00/day: Daily parking rate

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Parking Validation for Arts Council Guests

For guests attending meetings at Arts Council, parking validation will be available for business-related visits. However, guests attending gallery exhibits, Sawtooth classes, or general events will need to pay for parking. We are committed to working with our arts partners and rental organizations to ensure a smooth transition.

Parking Violations and Appeals

As part of this transition, a $45 ticket fee will be applied for parking violations, which can be appealed directly with Smart Park. We encourage all drivers to use the Pay-By-Phone app or the kiosk to avoid fines. As always, parking violations can be appealed, and Smart Park has a history of being reasonable with such appeals.

Looking Toward the Future

This updated parking system is part of our continued efforts to improve the overall visitor experience at Arts Council while also ensuring that the lot remains accessible and well-managed. Smart Park provides many businesses in the area with parking validation options, and a portion of the parking revenue will directly support Arts Council’s operations, including the hosting of events and providing space for the community.

As the parking management system rolls out, new signage will be installed over the next few weeks.

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Arts Council of Winston Salem & Forsyth County is the leading advocate of arts in our region and seeks to enhance and support the local artistic and cultural landscape. Established in 1949 as the first arts council in the nation, the pioneering organization is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Arts Council owns and operates a campus which includes Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts and Hanesbrands Theatre. In 2024, it hosted 360 on-campus events with 66,000 attendees and distributed over $1.4 million in grants and programs, benefiting over 800,000 people.  Additionally, Arts Council is the largest funder of Arts Education for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

For additional parking information, please contact: 

Leo Morello

Director of Production

Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County

lmorello@intothearts.org

www.intothearts.org