Manchester Arts on The Right Track

We had a convening of the minds, creative ones at that, the night of Thursday, Feb. 23, as the community met to discuss the state of the arts in Manchester. 

The take home thought: Manchester is on the right track with developing its Arts Council and we’re having a good time on the adventure.

Here are a few highlights from the community meeting:

• Our featured speaker, Dan Tierney, deputy director of the Regional Arts Commission, stressed the importance of community input and energy in undertaking any type of arts effort. With 25+ interested neighbors convened last week and word spreading fast, we are excited to see what develops. Stay tuned everybody...this is going to be good!
• One of the next tasks for Manchester Arts is to take an inventory, of sorts, of all of the cultural assets in our community.  How will Manchester supplement these artistic efforts? How might we work together regionally for the benefit of all? How do we foster, encourage, and promote the talents present in our community?
• A quick survey of those present surfaced more art happenings than can be detailed here but luckily the Regional Arts Commission has that covered, too. Check out www.artszipper.com for the most complete listing of events throughout the region. Here are a few key words I heard last Thursday, from people in the know, to help get your search going: Winter Opera St. Louis; Queeny Park Art Fair.  I’ll see you there!

Next stop of this arts tour? Monday, March 5th at 7 p.m. for the City of Manchester’s Board of Aldermen meeting at the , 2nd floor.  Show your support for the arts in our community by coming out and hearing Dan Tierney’s presentation.  Dan knows his stuff and he’s funny, too!

If you have questions or are interested in volunteering your skills, knowledge and passion to the forming arts council, please contact Alderman Mike Clement at mclement1310@gmail.com or 636 394-5862.

Be sure to click the original image above. Work by Bill Vivrett, whose vision inspired the development of an arts council in Manchester. Bill is currently serving on the Interim Leadership Team charged with getting the arts council underway.