As I write this article I am sitting in a very comfortable room in the historical Partridge Inn in the beautiful city of Augusta, Georgia. I am here in this city of southern charm representing the Colquitt County Arts Center at the Georgia Association of Museums and Galleries annual conference. Earlier in the year your Arts Center curator Leah Garcia spent some time at the conference but had to scurry home to install the International Crafts Exhibit which will open to the public on Monday. It is a fascinating exhibit of crafts from all over the world and is worth a trip to the Arts Center.

Earlier today I had the privilege of attending a workshop at which Carrie Viohl was representing the Arts Center and one of our United Way partner agencies, Green Oaks. Carrie delivered an energetic and passionate presentation on the United Way funded art program that recently partnered the Arts Center with Green Oaks clients. Clients from Green Oaks visited the Arts Center each week for several months to learn, create and enjoy exploring the arts. The classes culminated in a fabulous 50-year Anniversary celebration of Green Oaks service to the community and a very successful art auction. Carrie did an excellent job and represented our community well.

One of the greatest benefits of gatherings like this conference is the opportunity to learn how other communities and organizations present events, exhibits and programming in other areas of the state. It is also a great platform to share what is available at the Colquitt County Arts Center and I am often met with incredulous looks when I tell them how small our county is and how extensive our support and participation are.

This is also the time of year when a lot of energy goes into the writing and applying for a support grant from the Georgia Council for the Arts, so I am pretty up-to-date on what we have done recently, what we have in the hopper and how fortunate we are as a community to have this fabulous facility, dedicated staff, talented instructors, dedicated board, committed community partnerships and YOU!

The Arts Center board is challenged with the task of setting at least two attainable goals for that GCA grant. Your feedback is vital in setting those goals. We can set goals all day long but if it is not what the community is looking for or needs, what good does that do any of us?

So, we want, We NEED to hear from YOU. We need to know what you want. We need to know what programs or classes or workshops or theater productions you want to participate in or see.

It’s no secret that the arts strengthen communities in many ways – culturally, educationally, economically, socially, spiritually. Quality programming that reflects community values is key to the Arts Center’s and our communities success. By their nature, the arts embrace people of all income levels and cultural backgrounds; they eliminate traditional barriers and stimulate creative thinking that opens dialog and communication, and accepts the notion that there are many ways to solve the same problem.

So, let’s talk. Let’s talk about your dreams and wishes for the arts in Colquitt County. Here are some of mine — maybe they align with yours?

A Community Church Choir Festival, a Multi-Cultural celebration that represents the diversity of our community, a Black History Month celebration-celebrating local citizens who have made an impact on our community, a celebration of Women in the Arts-you know who you are!, an Empty Bowl event to benefit the Food Bank, Mommy and Me art and music classes for 2-4 year olds, Grand Camp -an art experience for grandparents and grandchildren to enjoy together, A Travel Club that “travels” to other destinations through movies, books, art, music and food, “Our Community” a photo and essay competition, and my list goes on and on and on……

What’s on your list? What would you like to see, do, learn, create? Let’s talk.

Call the Arts Center at 985-1922, email us at info@colquittcountyarts.org, Facebook us at Colquitt County Arts or contact us through our website at www.colquittcountyarts.com. Or even better COME SEE US!