Raleigh arts center evacuated after bomb threat targets Drag Story Hour event

One planned event at Artspace, a visual arts center on East Davie Street in Raleigh, faced a setback on Saturday.

The center received an email threatening a bomb and spewing anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, forcing an evacuation.

After notice of the threat, the Raleigh Police Department searched the building and determined it was safe.

Wednesday night, the director of Drag Story Hour Triangle says fear of different people can manifest into hate.

She says that's why, despite this setback, she will continue sharing their messages of inclusion.

"The people who think this way don't really know what we do," Elise Chenoweth, Director of Drag Story Hour Triangle, said. "Our program is all about teaching the next generation to be loving and kind and to accept diversity and differences in your neighbors."

In a statement, ArtSpace said

"Despite this challenge, we stand firm in our mission to inspire positive community impact through art, and we will not be discouraged by hate."

They went on to say they would reschedule the drag story hour for a later time.

RPD would not share details about the incident except to say it is an active investigation.