PARIS – The Western Oxford Foothills Cultural Council is beginning to emerge after a three-month transition period in which a formal retreat and continual feedback from community leaders have helped create a plan for its future.

In light of the role a cultural council could play in Western Oxford Foothills, WOF embarked on a planning process for the future.

Originally funded by the Maine Arts Commission, in 2001, to create a cultural inventory, WOF went back to the arts commission for support in its transition. WOF covers 21 towns across Maine’s School Districts 17, 44 and 72.

Executive Director Toni Seger, who wrote the plan, considers the organization and development grant that funded it to be the most important support the council has gotten to this point.

Last summer, WOF published a cultural directory that has since been distributed throughout the schools, libraries and numerous other venues of its region. The directory was funded, in part, by a grant from the arts commission with help from Oxford Hills Chamber, Western Maine Development, Denmark Arts Center, Maine Balsam Fir and University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

Seger recalls the enthusiasm generated by the directory. “Response to the directory has been very gratifying and it motivated us to put in a real planning effort.” WOF has been incorporated as a nonprofit in Maine.

Seger is also a steering committee member of the Maine Mountain Heritage Network. Led by Bruce Hazard, the network is a loose association of businesses, nonprofits and government agencies interested in heritage based, economic development. The network has produced a cultural strategic plan for the four mountain counties of Oxford, Franklin, Somerset and Piscataquis. They also voted to adopt a “heritage area” model as a basis for building regional brand identity.

The network’s plan has been endorsed by Gov. John Baldacci and by Dann Lewis, acting commissioner, Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.