Arts community seeks director

Wanted: an executive director to guide the burgeoning arts community in Columbia County.

Filling that slot will be the primary goal of Columbia County Arts in the coming year, said the group's board president, Philip Hedgecoth, at their annual meeting Monday.

"We've been working our tails off this past year," Hedgecoth said. "It's been more than we can handle."

Hedgecoth said he believes the arts group can produce the funding for a part-time director to handle the administrative responsibilities currently undertaken by volunteers.

"Arts and culture is growing so fast in Columbia County that we don't always have the time needed to do some of the things we'd like to do," Hedgecoth said.

Having an executive director also lends more legitimacy to the group, which could mean increased funding, he said.

"A lot of grant organizations see it as a sign that we're getting more serious and pay us a little more attention," Hedgecoth said.

Also at the meeting, the group elected new board members, most of whom will serve through June 2009.

Hedgecoth is in his final month as Columbia County Arts president. Sandy Partridge will assume the role in July, he said.

Other board officers will be elected in July as well.

Future projects discussed at the meeting included creating an endowment fund for renting the Columbia County Library Performing Arts Center, creating an artists resource directory, developing an arts calendar and recruiting more members.