Community Arts Meeting To Be Held Thursday

By MAGGIE MCMURRAY

Moapa Valley Progress

The Moapa Valley Revitalization Project (MVRP), in partnership with the Nevada Arts Council, the Moapa Valley Art Guild, and the Moapa Valley Performing Arts Council, is hosting a community meeting on Thursday, October 6 at the Overton Community Center from 4-5:30 pm. The groups are inviting all interested members of the Moapa Valley community to join them in brainstorming about ideas to bring more art into the community; especially into the downtown area.

“This is mostly a strategic planning meeting about how we can incorporate art into Moapa Valley,” said MVRP President Mary Kaye Washburn. “We want to incorporate art to update the look of our downtown area and make it a place where people want to stop.”

Amy Spencer, Program Coordinator of the Nevada Arts Council Community Arts Development Team, explained what its goal is in holding meetings like this. “This public convening is part of a series of Arts Town Meetings taking place across the state,” she said. “Data and ideas generated at Arts Town Meetings will be gathered, organized and shared. This information will allow the Nevada Arts Council to work with Moapa Valley to set arts and cultural priorities.”

Those members of the public who cannot attend the meeting but would still like their voice to be heard can complete an online survey at nac.nevadaculture.org.

Washburn explained that bringing art into communities is a goal of MVRP. The group has recently been awarded a grant to bring benches, shelters and a visitors kiosk, among other improvements, to the Overton downtown area. Members are looking for public input on how to proceed.
“We don’t just want to put in ugly benches with metal roofs over them,” Washburn said. “We want things that will enrich the community and be beautiful.”

Everyone is welcome at the meeting and no personal art skills or prior art expertise is necessary.