Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Arts commission wants to hear from you

Group meets in Hailey to get comments on long-range plan


By SABINA DANA PLASSE
Express Staff Writer

Michael Faison is the executive director for the Idaho Commission on the Arts based in Boise.

The Idaho Commission on the Arts met in Hailey last week to host an open discussion to generate ideas for the commission's strategic long-range plan for the arts in Idaho. At the meeting Tuesday, Oct. 23, at the Liberty Theatre, residents, artists and arts advocates—as well as representatives from valley art organizations and programs—had the opportunity to meet Michael Faison, the new executive director for the Idaho Commission on the Arts.

This was the second meeting the commission has held to discuss long-term planning. Denise Simone, a commission member and core artist for Company of Fools, introduced the commission and emphatically said that our words do count, and we are heard.

"I know how important arts education is," Faison said. "We can only know what people need by asking them. We are here to serve you and the whole state as a public agency."

The commission posed the questions: What do you value most about living in Idaho? What roles might creativity play in Idaho's future? What value do you believe arts and cultural events offer your community? How can the Idaho Commission for the Arts assist you achieve your vision?

Each question was responded to from a very vocal forum of over 30 people. Answers ranged from personal experience to broad community observations. Important topics such as making arts education part of school curriculums, abolishing standardized testing, giving artists more information about grants and exhibition opportunities and the idea of the arts as important and necessary to the community were foremost.

The importance of arts education in the schools was a consistent topic among all attendees, which Faison addressed in his closing remarks.

"We want to make sure a child has a whole education," Faison said.

All of the responses from every forum were recorded, and the commission plans to post the questions on its Web site so everyone can offer their opinions and ideas.

In addition, Simone said the best way to have your voice heard is through pen and paper. Written letters are the way to go to attract attention from commissioners and officials. She said she has seen the process, and it does happen.

The Wood River Valley was stop No. 7 on a 12-stop tour of Idaho in which the commission is taking feedback and recording it all to incorporate for the next five-year long-range plan. For more information or to express opinions, visit arts.idaho.gov.




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