Fine Arts Council pursuing 'arts community'; Town hall May 20

By Kate Miller, Record Managing Editor
Posted 11/7/19

The Warren County Fine Arts Council is holding a town hall at 6 p.m. Monday, May 20, at Warrenton High School to discuss building a robust arts community.“Anyone interested in the arts, and anyone …

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Fine Arts Council pursuing 'arts community'; Town hall May 20

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The Warren County Fine Arts Council is holding a town hall at 6 p.m. Monday, May 20, at Warrenton High School to discuss building a robust arts community.“Anyone interested in the arts, and anyone interested in rejuvenating any downtown area in Warren County should attend the meeting,” said Jennifer Schipper, president of the council.She suggests elected officials, property owners, artists of all kinds and arts supporters attend.“Anyone who celebrates art and creativity. Really, I can’t imagine who I would exclude,” Schipper added.There will be a Fine Arts Council summer camp this year for first- through eighth-grade students July 15-19 at Wright City East Elementary that encompasses art, dance, theater and music. Applications are available at Scenic Regional Library and the Warren County Fine Arts Council Facebook page.The town hall on May 20 will focus on a vision for creating fine arts districts.“There are communities with art districts where people can see art and sell art,” said Schipper. “There’s a potential for galleries, studios, places for DIY, painting classes, artist demonstrations.”Such places present opportunities for local artists and guest artist programs while at the same time creating local attractions. She added that these arts districts could be anywhere in Warren County, not just in Warren County’s the bigger towns.Schipper said Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Hannibal and New Haven all have arts districts and could serve as potential models.She added Amy Axline Carroll, an artist with roots in Warren County, will be in attendance to talk about how an arts district helped revitalize a part of Indianapolis, Ind.Carroll’s mother Sandy Nolkemper was instrumental in establishing the Warren County Fine Arts Council.Schipper said arts district models showed artists filling empty building spaces helped bring vibrancy to otherwise stagnant or declining areas.A goal is for the town hall to attract people who want to contribute to creating arts communities within Warren County, she added.Schipper is looking to increase membership on the council. More members translates to more goals and activities.“I don’t see why anyone should have to leave Warren County to enjoy the arts,” she said.The Fine Arts Council also organizes a summer concerts series.Downtown Warrenton


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