Town meetings set to examine Nevada arts

The Nevada Arts Council is launching a series of arts town meetings to examine the efforts, wants and needs of towns across the state as it builds a three-year plan to support art in Nevada. Carson City’s event will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the State of Nevada Stewart Facility, Building 1, at 5500 Snyder Ave.

The meetings will explore the cultural needs of large and small communities, the role of the arts in the Silver State and evaluate NAC’s role as a state agency. Information gathered at these meetings and through an online survey will help shape the Arts Council’s strategic plan, Values & Vision, 2016-2019.

“Everyone — artists, educators, parents, elected officials, business people and concerned individuals — is invited to our arts town meetings. We’ve designed them as an occasion to acknowledge community vitality, discuss local challenges and set cultural priorities, as well as to gather information to update the NAC’s strategic plan,” said Susan Boskoff, Nevada Arts Council executive director.

In addition to the local meetings, the public may contribute to the conversation as part of a survey that seeks comments on local arts activities. For those who cannot attend an arts town meeting or want to comment on specific issues, the 2014 Values & Vision survey is available in English and Spanish at nac.nevadaculture.org. Print copies are available by calling 775-687-6680.

The Nevada Arts Council, a division of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, is the agency charged with ensuring that state and national funds support cultural activity and encourage participation in the arts throughout Nevada.

In addition to providing hundreds of grants to arts and community-based organizations, schools, artists and local municipalities throughout the state, the Arts Council coordinates a variety of statewide programs and activities such as the annual Poetry Out Loud recitation competition for high-school aged students, traveling exhibits, artist residencies, workshops and cultural assessments.

For a complete schedule of meetings and more information, go to nac.nevadaculture.org/. For more about Carson’s event, call Chris Gibbons at 775-687-8333.