Jim Bongartz
We know that you share in our commitment to the powerful role the arts play in sustaining the community, in building resilience, in creating an atmosphere of joy and hope, creativity and inspiration.
Despite the challenges and uncertainties of the past year, we reflect on and celebrate our accomplishments in 2020:
2020
Newly designed Arts & Cultural Council website
- The website facilitates networking between artists, arts organizations, arts businesses, and the community. With the ability to expand as the A&C continues to grow, the site provides several additional features that will work to strengthen the regional arts community and become the go-to site for all of our regional arts needs.
Virtual exhibitions and programs
- Our first online exhibition and sale, For the Love of Art, concluded on August 31 after a successful three months. Over 90 member-artists exhibited 180+ works of art with numerous pieces sold.
- We hosted our first free online seminars, The Art of Marketing and How to Get Published which we will expand in 2021.
- We initiated a Facebook Live series of artist talks, demos, and studio tours during the summer, and will resume that initiative beginning in January.
- The Bucks County: Wish You Were Here online exhibition, sale, and postcard competition continues to serve as a means of celebration and community building during a challenging time. The exhibition honors cherished local artists, their work, and regional historic, cultural, and natural landmarks. The show runs through January 31.
Expanded reach
- We added four new members to our Board of Directors, who will help us continue to build vitality and energy for the organization.
- We grew our Facebook following by 60%; we have almost 2000 followers.
- Our membership has almost doubled over the last 12 months.
Community partnerships
- We established the Bucks County: Reimagine, Explore Discover partnership with Bucks County Audubon Society, currently on hold because of COVID.
- We maintained an ongoing relationship with Visit Bucks County while strengthening connections between the visual arts and tourism in Bucks County.
- We partnered with Bucks County Community College on three virtual educational and performance events.
- We collaborated with the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance and Americans for the Arts on arts advocacy issues.
- We recruited sculptors for the Artist’s Walk at Peddler’s Village during the summer.
Freeman Hall
- In early 2020, the A&C initiated an Alliance with Freeman Hall at Salem, on East Court Street in Doylestown. We look forward to moving in, in 2021.
- A&C programs at Freeman Hall will further engage artist members and the Bucks County community in educational initiatives, provide venues for meaningful arts and advocacy dialogue, and strengthen local and regional arts awareness through exhibition and sale opportunities, events, performances, workshops, and forums.
- Our second-floor meeting room will provide a venue for more intimate Art Shares, portfolio reviews, Coffee and Conversation, and more.
A new era for the Council
- With our Community Meeting Center at Freeman Hall, future plans for exhibitions and events, increased programs (temporarily online), a dynamic educational series, endless opportunities for members and the public to engage in our mission, and our forward-looking and progressive outlook, the Arts & Cultural Council is sure to serve the arts loving, Bucks County community well and into the future.