Columbia County's Artists' Guild hopes for community support

Editor:

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On behalf of the Columbia County Arts Council, our sincere appreciation for The News-Times' March 11 story on our membership drive.

However, the vision goes so much further than membership. It is our long-term goal to promote the quality of arts in the community that is a major part of our quality of life. The fact is, community arts is a major benchmark in being the desirable community to live or retire in, but without a strong council to back the arts organizations, we have nothing.

True, most of us know of the quality of the ballet and maybe even some of the visual art events, but these are the works of individual organizations, left without a community vision or focus. With the help of some serious movers and shakers, the council's intent is to be not only a promoter of the arts but a supporter of the art organizations that have joined, or have yet to join us, to make us what we can become to the community.

This is a long journey, and we begin Monday evening at Brandon Wilde Clubhouse at 5:30 p.m. with the Artists' Guild presenting an exhibit and their vision of the impact they wish to make upon the community. As president, I welcome all of Columbia County to join the beginning of our journey to help set our path to be the best that we can be. I have so many stories to tell about the arts surrounding us.

As the man said, "We are only just getting started." Please join us Monday evening to help begin the journey. It is for you.

Dwain Shaw, president

Columbia County Arts Council