Founded in 1972 by the late Mr. James Walker, the Iredell Arts Council is a non-profit arts organization serving the residents, artists and arts organizations of Iredell County, NC.  The organization serves as an extension of the NC Arts Council as their Designated County Partner for Iredell County; funded through individual and corporate donations, grants and the NC Arts Council's Grassroots Arts program. 

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The Iredell Arts Council is housed in the Old Jail building in Downtown Statesville in the center of Iredell County.  Iredell County is positioned between the mountain and Piedmont regions of North Carolina, north of Charlotte and west of Winston-Salem. Surrounded by creeks and rolling topography, the Brushy Mountains extend into the northwest corner, and the nation's largest manmade lake, Lake Norman, occupies the southwest corner with over 520 miles of shoreline.  The name Iredell originates from the word "eyredale" meaning "a valley of flowing air".  Each of the different sections of Iredell County is diverse, displaying rich traditions in music and craft heritage, historic downtown charm, and new contemporary attitudes.