Rural Arts and Culture Summit
Rural Arts and Culture Summit
Rural Arts and Culture Summit 2017
John White: writer, photographer, retired journalist; Georgette Jones: literature teacher, theatre actor/director/teacher; Marilee Strom: musician, former art teacher, business owner; Kathy Fransen: musician, theatre, Rhythm of the River coordinator; Janet Olney: visual artist, Willmar Area Arts Council coordinator; Joyce Meyer: photographer, retired art teacher, Canby Arts Council; Pam Blake: retired art teacher, visual arts, Tyler Arts Council, Southwest Minnesota Weaver's Guild; Michele Knife Sterner: theatre actor, Southwestern Minnesota State University Associate Director for Access Opportunity Success program; Tom Wirt: artist, owner of Clay Coyote Gallery, Hutchinson Center for the Arts, past member of Hutchinson Public Arts Commission; Joyce Aakre: visual arts, writing, Discover Dassel committee, Board member for Litchfield Community Education, Exhibit committee for Dassel Area Historical Society; Kelly Muldoon: graphic artist, Prairie Music Association, Prairie Oasis Players; Dan Wahl: writer, visual artist, director, adjunct English instructor at Southwest Minnesota State University; Anne O'Keefe-Jackson: human resources director, bead and quill work; Cindy Reverts: visual artist, Rock County Fine Arts Association treasurer, Council for Arts in Humanities in Rock County; Brett Lehman: Worthington International Festival, Worthington City Band, Worthington Concert Association; Reggie Gorter: vocalist, theatre, voice and dance teacher; Dana Johnson: producer/filmmaker; Claire Swanson: visual arts, arts teacher, Meander Art Crawl Committee.
Janet Olney: Southwest Minnesota Arts Council Board, visual artist, Willmar Area Arts Council coordinator; Joyce Meyer: Southwest Minnesota Arts Council Board, photographer, retired art teacher, Canby Arts Council; Great Murray: Southwest Minnesota Arts Council Executive Director.
ACHF Arts Access
Artists and arts organizations build relationships with members of, or organizations that serve, groups that have traditionally been underserved by the arts or by the applicant organization. Anecdotal responses, contacts made, relationships built, ideas generated.
Just starting a new cultural organization, the exposure to the "who's who" in the MN arts and cultural community was invaluable. I was struck by the consistent reference to meeting and getting to know the underserved/underrepresented in one's community. I was also struck by the impression that folks in the art/culture world seem to relate differently than others on Main Street--friendlier, more open, more interested in others, willingness to share ideas and grow from experiences. I was impressed with the number of resource people available as our own center needs began to surface in discussions. I also began to see the merit in being "intentional" and pushing things to get projects started. It was helpful to ponder and realize the role of our Centre in the town & culture, that we serve a necessary function, especially with young people.