Alabama River Region Arts Center Volume 1, Issue 5 February 2011
The ARRAC Update The Slightly Late February Edition
ARRAC’s Opening Nears! INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Board / Officers
2
ECAC Help
2
New Handrails
2
Clean Up Days
2
Growing Stronger
3
One Day Classes
3
About us
4
It was a busy February. With our energy costs covered for this year, we focused on getting the Arts Center spruced up for the Gallery opening on March 24, 2011 and our Open House on April 9, 2011. We can not being to express our gratitude to all of the committed Volunteers that have participated in the work days. Each of you have made a big difference and should be proud of your Arts Center. The key is Volunteer. Our Arts Center is fueled by Volunteers. Just 8 hours a month (2 four hour sessions) keeps the Arts Center open and growing.
As our Volunteer base grows, more opportunities will arise to explore different avenues with the Arts Center. Those of you that feel 8 hours is a lot of time per month don’t fret, we will have internet service so you can research ideas and post comments on our facebook page. Active Artists volunteering their 8 hours can bring a project in to work on and share the process with our visitors and students. This is very popular in other parts of the country. Those dedicated Volunteers that love being involved more
than 8 hours will have many new and exciting opportunities to get involved with in the future. We are looking for more members to get involved with the exterior landscaping and clean up, exterior public art program and fund raising entertainment program. Contact Vickie Ham or Frank Sullivan for more information on these and other committees and programs. Wanted: Computer We are looking for a computer that is relatively new for the office. We will have internet service for maintaining our website, facebook site and general artist research. We hope to go wireless later this year pending a donation of equipment or funds.
New Volunteer Coordinator We are proud to announce that Shirley Esco has accepted the Volunteer Coordinator position with ARRAC.
Got a Story ? Have you got a story you would like to get printed in the news letter? Contact Frank Sullivan or Vickie Ham for more information.
This is a very important job. All volunteer activities, general notifications will be handled by Shirley. Everyone needs to let Shirley know that we are very thankful for her help and expertise. Thank you Shirley! This is a big job and Shirley will need several assistant coordinators to share the load. You can contact Shirley, Vickie or Frank to get more information on helping Shirley. Speaking of Volunteering, ARRAC
needs more volunteers to fill slots during the Call to Artist for the Gallery. WE need to be open for art work deliveries 8 to 5 from March 10 through March 24. We also need to start filling slots for our regular monthly Gallery hours of Thursday, Friday 12-4, Saturday 9-5 and Sunday 12-4. Contact Shirley to see what dates need filling. Thank you for your help!
Our Strategic Plan 1. Meet the needs of the Community. 2. Expand our high quality Arts programs. 3. Become financially independent.
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As we grow our financial needs grow as well. If you know someone who would like to help, contact any of our Founding Board Members …. Thank you for your help!
The ARRAC Update ECAC Helps With Energy Costs In a time of need Mayor Jerry Willis came to the rescues and partnered with the Elmore County Action Committee to commit to covering ARRAC’s energy costs for 2011. This is an incredible show of faith and good will by one of our County’s leaders and leading Agencies. All of the members and students of ARRAC send out a heart felt “Thank you” to Marion Dunlop of ECAC and Mayor Willis for giving ARRAC the means to move forward.
2011 and 2012 to lessen the load on the ECAC. It is ARRAC’s commitment to actively participate in securing funds to pay our fair share of energy usage at the Arts Center. We would like to see several more grant writers and fund raisers get involved. There are al lot of grant sources and opportunities out there and currently ARRAC has 2 grant writers trying to keep up. Contact Vickie, Frank or Myra for more information.
We are working harder than ever to secure grants and funding to contribute to our energy costs for
Forge Council Funds and Designs Entry Handrail The Alabama Forge Council has secured funding and is in the process of fabricating our new entry stair hand rail. This will not only be a hand rail to assist people getting up and down the stairs, it is a work of art and a proud addition to ARRAC’s exterior art program. We thank the Alabama Forge Council and its President Raymond Head for all of the hard work.
Clean Up and Painting Day Focus on ARRAC We have made fantastic progress with our painting plan thanks to Vickie Ham. If you have not been by lately you will be surprised at the changes. The office, room 103 and 2/3rds of the main hall have been painted, lighting cleaned, new emergency exit signs, fire extinguishers have been purchased and furniture is starting to be placed. We have a new pass through counter top courtesy of Bath Builders of Wetumpka. The crews are now going to focus on painting room 105, 104 and installing the display system in the
Gallery. We are looking for men to help with the Gallery hanger system install to layout, drill holes and cut wood and peg board. Send Vickie or Frank an email if you or if you know someone who would like to help. Lastly, we are going to need a general clean up before we open. This will include vacuuming floors, dust mopping the hall, wiping down chair rails, marker boards, cleaning windows so the Arts Center will look sharp for its opening. Our Volunteers are our life’s blood.
Founding Board of Directors and Officers Below are the emails for the Founding Board and Officers. Drop them an email if you have any questions or suggestions!
Pat Johnson – wdturn@bellsouth.net Frank Sullivan – sullivanpottery@aol.com
BOARD John Wayne Taylor Carol Barksdale – bdaleart@aol.com Myra Johnson – huntn4bears@elmore.rr.com
jwtrht@att.net
OFFICERS Vickie Ham – President vjham@aol.com Carol Barksdale – Vice President bdaleart@aol.com Dawn Sullivan – Secretary/Treasurer Seamarie74@aol.com
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The ARRAC Update One Day Classes Announced ARRAC’s curriculum committee has announced our one day and ½ day classes. They are: - Adult and Children’s Water color
- Beginning Sewing
- Wire Wrapped Jewelry These classes will be low cost and intended to encourage people to try different types of art. We feel that this positive experience will lead to more participation in future classes.
- Adult and Children’s Drawing - Beginning Quilting - Beginning Knitting
Posting of the class costs, schedule for Saturdays and Sundays will be posted on the web site in March.
- Color Theory - Beginning Crochet -Coil Clay
Growing Stronger
Important Dates
We are pleased to announce that our membership is growing and we are receiving more inquiries ever day. We now have (40) members. This is up from (28) in January. We have received in increase in the number of class inquires and Gallery Artist inquiries. Our efforts to “get the word out” is working, thanks to you our members and Volunteers. This is the energy that keeps a community arts center going. There are many exciting things that are going to happen this year and next. Get involved!
Call to Artist for the Gallery: ******* Help Wanted ******* The ARRAC is looking for persons interested in filling Committee positions including; Marketing, Fund Raising, Curriculum/Programs, Gallery design and Room clean up Captains. Contact any Officers or Founding Board Members for more information.
March 10 through March 24 Open the Gallery Doors: March 24, 23011 Community Open House: April 9, 2011
Our Web Site: www.arrac.org
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ALABAMA RIVER REG IO N ART S CE NTER
85 Canal Cove Wetumpka, Alabama 36092 Phone: (334) 578-9485 E-Mail:
NEWSLETTER TITLE About Us… The Founding members are composed of local Artist from varied disciplines that have a common goal to create a public non-profit organization based in Wetumpka, Alabama focusing on nurturing all categories of arts in the River Region. The Arts Center is a volunteer based, community supported organization that will derive it’s funding from public and private donations, contributions, grants benefactors and the proceeds from memberships, Artist Space, Rentals, Gallery Art Sales and special events.
director@arrac.org We’re on the Web!
See us at: www.arrac.org
Volunteer Memberships Gallery Inquiries
www.arrac.org
ALABAMA RIVER REGION ARTS CENTER 85 CANAL COVE WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36092
MEMBER NAME
STREET ADDRESS
ADDRESS 2 CITY, ST ZIP CODE