The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge is "going on the road"! thanks to a Technical Assistance Grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

We have set up Art Town Meetings in various parts of the region to initiate a dialogue about the future of art and culture among people who have an interest in art. Are you an artist? A museum go-er? A teacher or civic leader? How 'bout a volunteer or board member of a cultural organization? Do you represent a business that funds art in the community?

Or maybe you just like art!

Well, "come on down"! We want to hear from you.

We want to know how we can best serve artists and organizations in the region. So we're going to ask them! Just attend the Art Town Meeting that is most convenient for you or that focuses on your region - or come to as many ATMs are you wish. The schedule is listed below.

The Art Town Meetings will be conducted by Laura Rawlings, Executive Director of The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge, and TACBR staff and board members.

We appreciate The Arts Council's member organizations that are hosting the meetings in their region. They are helping us get the word out and, hopefully, those folks will learn things, too, that can help them in planning their programs.

The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge is a membership organization, serving 100 cultural organizations and 200 individual artists. We're sort of like a "chamber of commerce" for arts and cultural organizations - we provide programs and services to our members. Our mission is "to sustain and strengthen the diverse cultural community of southwestern Virginia." A big job! But one we're determined to do. What we learn at these Art Town Meetings will enhance our ability to do that.

So, thanks for participating!

Snow dates have been set for the meetings. For more information call 540-342-5790 Ext. 5