Dreams coming true for arts community

Times Reporter 

 

After years of planning and dreaming, arts groups in Strathmore now get to see their hopes come true. It was in 2010 that things began to really take shape when the Hope Bridges Society applied for and received a grant to conduct a Community Arts Centre feasibility study. 

The study was just the push needed to help the arts scene get going and nearly three years later an ‘arts council’ was formed. 

“I am so happy. I got here 11 years ago, joined Wheatland Society of Arts, and watched it – along with so many other arts groups – struggle, so you knew there needed to be more awareness and development in the arts,” said Brandy Hebbes, board member of the Strathmore Regional Arts Collective.

“People don’t even realize how many arts groups exist in the area. Over the years these little arts groups would go in search of funding to promote their art group but were continually turned down. Town, county and government insisted you need to have an arts council if you want to be considered seriously.”

And that is exactly what Strathmore has now with the Strathmore Regional Arts Collective (SRAC). In 2012 SRAC became incorporated, and the nine-person board has spent the past year focusing on strategic planning and setting goals. The ultimate goal is seeing an arts and culture facility created; something Hebbes said will likely be years in the making.

“One of the biggest short term goals is to increase awareness and just let people (artists and art lovers)  know that we’re here and we want to identify, support, and promote the arts and artisans” said Hebbes. “Our focus is to provide opportunities to the Strathmore and region artist, but some of that would entail bringing in performing groups from other areas for the region to enjoy as well.”

SRAC is trying to gather artists and artisans to be members. Even if you just enjoy art and want to have a voice in what is being brought to Strathmore and the region, you are welcome to be a member. “Anybody is welcome to be a member of SRAC as it is a membership society.”

SRAC will first be introducing themselves to the public at the end of September when they host an Arts and Sounds in the Park Festival. At the festival priority will be given to Strathmore and Wheatland County artists. Hebbes said they will definitely accept applications from artists from other areas, but local artists and artisans will be first to fill the openings. As the festival expands they will be able to include more artists from outlying areas.

After the festival, SRAC will plan a few things but the goal is to be a facilitator of sorts, assisting groups with events and partnerships. “We are compiling a list of locations that artists can utilize whether they are performing, displaying or doing classes.”

SRAC can be found on Facebook by going to Strathmore Regional Arts Collective. There, applications can be found for the upcoming festival and people can keep up to date on the latest information coming from the collective.