Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Arts organizations gather to discuss future

Collaboration sought to help budgets and inspire creativity


By SABINA DANA PLASSE
Express Staff Writer

Representatives from arts-related Wood River Valley nonprofit organizations discuss ways to increase participation in the arts during a meeting at The Community Library in Ketchum. Photo by David N. Seelig

A Wood River Arts Alliance summit meeting last week generated new ideas to promote local arts, including ways to use more spaces for art exhibits and for rehearsals of theater and dance.

The meeting was held at The Community Library in Ketchum on Thursday, Sept. 24.

Attendees focused on the valley's art organization's successes, challenges and partnerships. Breakout sessions resulted in creative ideas for marketing to the valley and beyond, as well as ideas on spending.

The outcome of the meeting included suggestions for using vacant storefront space to exhibit art and for talks with future hotel developers to include exhibition spaces and rehearsal and meeting spaces in their projects.

In addition, a group discussed using the space behind the nexStage Theatre for rehearsal and classroom space. Other discussions included expanding Gallery Walk to include more than gallery visits, such as food events.

Alliance Treasurer Hilarie Neely had attended a similar meeting through the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and wanted to use the same model for the Wood River Arts Alliance.

"It was a very successful meeting," said Claudia McCain, alliance president. "The Idaho Commission on the Arts traveled from Boise to participate, and they were very impressed with the people of the community offering their ideas and support."

The meeting was hosted by the alliance, Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau, The Community Library, Sun Valley Center for the Arts, the Hailey Arts Commission and the Idaho Commission on the Arts. Moderating the meeting was state Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum.

"Wendy Jaquet is a person of action," McCain said. "She has new ideas on how to make things happen and asks people to help with different solutions."

A PowerPoint presentation celebrated the many successes of the arts community, which included St. Thomas Playhouse, the Wood River Community Orchestra, the Hailey Chamber of Commerce's Night of Music and month of Art in July, Caritas Chorale, the Royal Larkspur Play Troupe and the Sun Valley Gallery Association.

"Funding is tough," McClain said. "We are in a small town in a resort area, and we all recognize we have to do it together. The valley has an impressive arts community and lots of creative thinkers."

Other topics discussed were marketing through the chambers, bundling activities, annual calendars, city arts commissions and avoiding conflicting schedules.

One idea was to create a database of temporary housing for artists who visit the valley and a staffing skills database for artists to find employment during "slack." The Sun Valley-Ketchum chamber discussed upcoming classes on writing press releases for media outlets and the use of social networking for event promotion.

McCain said all the local arts-related nonprofits are competing for dollars and everyone realizes they must work together.

"Larger organizations are helping to support the smaller ones," McCain said. "We know we have to band together."

Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com




 Local Weather 
Search archives:


Copyright © 2024 Express Publishing Inc.   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy
All Rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Express Publishing Inc. is prohibited. 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.