INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — As this county’s locally designated arts agency, the Cultural Council has done much to promote the arts and cultural activities in Indian River County. However, with recent changes in community priorities and funding for the arts and cultural activities, the Cultural Council has undertaken steps to redefine and expand its mission.
To better understand what the community wants of the Cultural Council and develop ways to meet those objectives, the Council held three focus group meetings on successive days at the end of June. These focus groups were drawn from major arts organizations, art galleries, arts clubs, individual artists, and the performing arts.
Participants included representatives from the Vero Beach Museum of Art, Riverside Theatre, the Vero Beach Art Club, major galleries, local artists, orchestras, and opera groups. In short, representatives of some of the county’s most artistically and culturally-oriented groups participated in these thought-provoking and valuable meetings.
As the Cultural Council reframes and retools its mission, much focus will center on its members’ suggestions. Members want the Cultural Council to be the county’s single voice representing the arts, actively supporting issues important to its members.
Improving communications with its members, initiating more effective coordination and collaboration efforts and responding to its members will become high priorities of the Council. Greater Council visibility, an increase in member networking opportunities, and technical assistance/continuing education workshops are all needs expressed by its members.
The Cultural Council is committed to helping members build organizational capacity and promote a thriving role for arts and culture in our community. The Council’s interest in listening continues and it invites comments now and in the future.
For more information, call (772) 770-4857 or visit www.culural-council.org.