RUMFORD – Hundreds of local artists and craftspeople living in the River Valley have been identified.
Now, it’s time to publish a directory of the talent that exists here, then decide the next step to take in support of the arts.
Becky Welsh, coordinator of the River Valley Arts Initiative, pulled together a dozen people Thursday afternoon to help determine what that next step will be. The ideas came so fast that it will take a second meeting to definitively decide what to do.
“A poetry slam,” suggested Nancy DeMilner, who offered dozens of other ideas ranging from a one-act play competition to a juried art show.
“Competition brings a lot of excitement,” she said.
Betsy Bell, employee at Scrappers Domain, suggested an art show and performance on the greens, while Burt deFrees, Rumford Historical Society president, said introducing the many facets of art to youngsters starting in kindergarten is the way to make artistic endeavors a tradition.
“We want to present joy to people,” he said.
Other ideas included taking advantage in some way of the Moontide Festival in the summer, periodically spotlighting a successful artist, holding a junk sculpturing contest on Earth Day in April, and publicizing area high school art shows and talent programs.
A River Valley Arts Council may also be in the future. That, and other ideas, such as establishing a community arts calendar, sponsoring art-related events, searching for an art and/or performance center, and many other suggestions will be discussed at the March 16 meeting to which everyone in the River Valley towns is invited.
In the meantime, 2,500 copies of a River Valley Directory are expected to be printed by April.
This will be a first for the area, and another regional directory to be added to the several that focus on various other areas of the state already published. The information on artists, their area of expertise, short biographies and other data is also expected to be placed on line.
“Arts and culture is an economic engine,” said Welsh.
About $15,000 in grant money, most from the Maine Arts Council, has funded the River Valley Arts Initiative and directory, a project started a year ago.
eadams@sunjournal.com
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