Local artists representing the visual, auditory, and performing arts attended The Fredericksburg Art Initiative planning meeting on January 22, 2017, to strategize how best to formalize this new program, and better collaborate in promoting the arts in the region.
The Fredericksburg Art Initiative, funded by the Fredericksburg Arts Commission and organized by The Arts & Cultural Council of the Rappahannock and Central Rappahannock Regional Library, is a planned workshop series geared toward helping local artists and art organizations nurture and promote their art businesses.
“We were thrilled to have 75 members of our local art community join us on Sunday,” said Kenneth Lecky, chairman of the Fredericksburg Arts Commission. “There were artists who have been here for decades to recent transplants; representatives and members from local galleries to artists working on their own; dancers, painters, writers, photographers, singers, and more.”
“Our broad purpose was to start a conversation between artists and these organizations, and specifically to understand what topics the community would most want us to present in a workshop, tentatively scheduled for March 11, 2017, at the Library Headquarters branch in downtown Fredericksburg,” Lecky said.
Sherri Smith, executive director of the Artisans Center of Virginia, led those gathered through small and large group discussions about artist and organization values and goals are. The information will be used to help develop workshop topics.
“Attendees voted on the potential topics, and we’re now organizing this data and reach out to prospective workshop leaders,” Lecky said.
“It was great for all of these artists to meet and add their perspectives to the conversation, which highlighted for me a few concerns that were shared among a number of attendees,” Lecky said.
“Beyond the workshop topics, the biggest needs I heard from the group were for there to be more local and regional marketing of Fredericksburg as a rich and inviting arts destination, and for there to be better communication and access to various resources within the local art community,” Lecky said. “These are issues that the Fredericksburg Arts Commission has been working on, and I’m hopeful that this event will help us expand our efforts and involve more of the community.”
Anyone interested in the upcoming workshop or any future plans should sign up for the mailing list at http://fxbgarts.org
Announcements will also be made on the Fredericksburg Arts Commission Facebook page and The Arts & Cultural Council of the Rappahannock webpage.
In addition, the Fredericksburg Arts Commission website at http://fredarts.com includes information on funding opportunities, the free First Friday Trolley program, and volunteer opportunities with the commission.
More
Visit the Fredericksburg.Today Arts Page for ongoing information about artists and art events, including the monthly list of First Friday Fredericksburg featured artists and exhibits.
Fredericksburg Arts Commission 2016 Annual Report
The Fredericksburg Art Initiative Planning Meeting Scheduled
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