CARSON CITY, Nev. — The Nevada Arts Council is examining the efforts, wants and needs of towns across the state as it builds a three-year plan to support local efforts.
The NAC is launching a series of local arts town meetings to engage in conversations with Nevadans. Staff plans to explore the cultural needs of large and small communities, the role of the arts in the Silver State and to evaluate NAC’s role as a state agency.
The Carson City arts town meeting is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 13 at the state of Nevada Stewart Facility, Building #1 (formerly the Stewart Indian School), 5500 Snyder Ave. The meeting is co-sponsored by Nevada Indian Commission, Capital City Arts Initiative, Carson City Library, Carson City Arts & Culture Coalition and the Nevada Commission on Tourism. Details: Chris Gibbons, 775-687-8333.
Information gathered at these meetings and through an online survey will help shape the Arts Council’s strategic plan, “Values & Vision, 2016-2019,” Susan Boskoff, NAC executive director, said.
“Everyone — artists, educators, parents, elected officials, business people and concerned individuals — is invited to our arts town meetings,” Boskoff said. “We’ve designed them as an occasion to acknowledge community vitality, discuss local challenges and set cultural priorities, as well as to gather information to update the NAC’s strategic plan.”
The town meetings offer a chance to have a one-on-one dialogue with NAC representatives as they update the current plan, which then will be submitted to the National Endowment for the Arts, the agency’s national funding source.
In addition to the local meetings, the public may contribute to the conversation as part of a survey that seeks comments on local arts activities. For those who cannot attend an arts town meeting, or who want to comment on specific issues, the 2014 Values & Vision Survey is available online in English and Spanish on the NAC website, nac.nevadaculture.org. Print copies are available by calling 775-687-6680.
Arts town meetings are co-sponsored by a variety of local nonprofit organizations, businesses and government entities. For a meeting schedule, visit the NAC website, nac.nevadaculture.org.
The Nevada Arts Council, a division of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, is the agency charged with ensuring that state and national funds support cultural activity and encourage participation in the arts throughout Nevada. In addition to providing hundreds of grants to arts- and community-based organizations, schools, artists and local municipalities throughout the state, the Nevada Arts Council coordinates a variety of statewide programs and activities such as the annual Poetry Out Loud recitation competition for high school students, traveling exhibits, artist residencies, workshops and cultural assessments. For more information, please visit the department’s website at nac.nevadaculture.org.
