FACES
& PLACES
THE ARTS JULY 2006
 The Arts & Cultural
Council of Bucks County
by Barbara Swanda
There is a newly created non-profit organization in
Bucks County whose focus is to strengthen the region’s
arts (visual, performing & literary arts) and
heritage, and assist the people & organizations
working in those fields. It is called the Arts & Cultural
Council of Bucks County, or the Council, for short.
It is a membership-based organization, with a Board
of Directors and several working committees all comprised
of volunteers just like yourself. Feel free to join
in by contacting the Council!
The 2007 Directory
The Council is focusing
on several initial projects this year (see below)
that were identified as priorities
at a series of community Roundtables in 2004, including
this Summer’s launch of the much anticipated,
comprehensive Arts and Cultural Directory of the Bucks
County Region 2007 - - the ONLY inclusive reference
source of arts and cultural organizations, businesses
and individuals in our region. This Directory will
be available on-line and as a widely distributed print
publication containing visual, performing and literary
artists, as well as cultural organizations, allied
businesses and patron/arts supporters throughout the
Bucks County region (including adjacent New Jersey
art communities).
All are invited to submit
their information for the Directory. Listings are
free! To make the Directory
the most useful tool it can be, everyone who submits
an entry form will be listed. Members of the Council
however, receive special recognition with bold print
listings and enhanced descriptive entries. Annual membership
with the Council begins at only $25. Entry forms will
soon be available by mail and on the Council’s
website at www.bucksarts.org. The deadline for submission
of a listing is July 31st.
Additional Projects
In addition to developing
the Directory, the Council has already accomplished
the following:
- A database of 1300 individual
artists and arts and
cultural organizations has been established;
- Office
space supplied by the Bucks County Community College
in Newtown is operational;
- A Board of Directors and
several committees are in place;
- A membership brochure
was produced and distributed resulting in over 100
members (including the Mercer
and Fonthill Museums);
- Two workshops have
been held: a Winter 2006 workshop on “Legal Issues in
the Arts,” and a
Spring 2006 workshop on “Accounting and Tax
Issues for the Artist;”
- Plans for two new workshops
are underway for Fall 2006 and Spring 2007;
- An interactive
website is operational at www.bucksarts.org.
Future
plans include:
- Continuing to sponsor workshops
at least twice a year (one on marketing is being
planned for
this
Fall);
- To upgrade the website so it can be more
interactive and fulfill its communication and networking
functions;
- Conducting an inventory of space available
in Bucks County for arts production, rehearsal
and presentation;
and developing a searchable database of spaces
for use by artists and cultural organizations;
- Establishing a recognition awards program;
- Creating
a web-based calendar of arts and cultural events;
- Seeking appropriate partnerships to benefit the
community at large.
The Council is very interested in hearing from the
arts and cultural communities in our region. Please
contact them with questions, to get involved, and to
register for inclusion in the upcoming 2007 Directory.
Arts & Cultural Council
of Bucks County
c/o Dept. of the Arts / BCCC
275 Swamp Road
Newtown, PA 18940
215. 968. 8229
accbc@bucks.edu
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