THOMAS – Tucker County artists, community leaders and arts consumers had the opportunity to provide input Thursday during the West Virginia Division of Culture and History statewide arts listening tour. The event, one of only seven throughout the state, was hosted by the Tucker County Cultural District Authority.
Debbie Haught, Community Arts Coordinator for the WV Division of Culture and History, shared information about grants, programs and services offered by her group as she gathered information about regarding concerns and ideas about arts in the community over the next three to five years and what is needed to make ideas become a reality.
“We are a public dollar competitive arts grant manager,” Haught said. “I manage about six different arts programs. I want you to know that there is information available for you.”
Haught said the purpose of the tour is to find out how communities are changing.
“What are your challenges, what are you up against and what are your dreams?” Haught said. “What do you want to do? We need to ask those questions and ask them often.”
Haught said they take the information that they gather because it is part of their responsibility to the National Endowment for the Arts.
“We receive money from the state and the National Endowment for the Arts, and we assure them we are constantly assessing our population to discover their needs,” Haught said. “This is part of the reporting I do to report to the National Endowment, and to encourage them to give us more money to give away to you. What you give me tonight will be part of a report from the seven different locations we will visit over the next five weeks.”
Haught asked four questions including what are the biggest challenges faced by artists, what grants and services are needed from the Cultural Authority, what are the most positive aspects of the arts in your community and what is the best way to communicate and share information with local artists.
Mariwyn Smith, whose husband George is an artist with wood, said she feels the need for more mail order distribution centers.
“We need more year around instead of just occasionally,” Smith said.
“One challenge I see here is there is a real need for technical support,” Anne Jones, Tucker County Development Authority Director said. “We lack the manpower to complete or administer grants. A future challenge is affordable housing for our artists who wish to work in studios.”
Another artist agreed with Jones.
“I would just like to reinforce the suggestion for affordable housing and affordable studios. For artists wanting to move here, who haven’t quite hit their market or even found their stride in what they are creating, but they are capable, need to be able to work at it for a year or two. I think finding affordable housing and studio space will become more and more important.”
“Sometimes the cash matches for grants can be hard to come by, and broadband speeds in Thomas are ridiculous,” said another attendee.
Another artist asked how Tucker County could move to become recognized as an arts as a destination location.
“How can we attract people with the discretionary money and the interest that will increase revenues of our arts businesses?”
Haught said the WV Division of Culture and History offers communities the opportunity to become Certified Arts Communities.
She also asked about the positive aspects of arts in Tucker County.
One artist said that would be the young folks.
“It’s the community of young folks in Thomas who are not only creative, but are developing viable businesses and taking risks to do it.”
Haught said the last time she visited the community, the average age of the artists was considerably older.
Another artist said Tucker County art is unique.
“It is a beautiful blend of traditional artists and art work and at the same time, it is hip and sophisticated,” she said. “I don’t see this in any other West Virginia community I have been in. It seems like it’s either one way or another, but we have a perfect weird mix.”
Diane Hinkle, Tucker County Cultural District Authority member, said folks in Tucker County grew up with the arts.
“Art and music have been passed down for years,” Hinkle said. “The generational culture of arts in this community is what makes it so rich and powerful and viable.”
Haught changed her schedule, opting to staying over through Friday to tour local art galleries and go through Cottrell’s Opera House in Thomas. She said she planned to take time to talk with local artists and learn more about the arts in Tucker County.
Additional information about the West Virginia Division of Culture and History is available by calling 304-558-0240 or online at www.wvculture.org.