While artists may be known for their individuality, they can find strength in numbers.
That's the theory behind a symposium set for Saturday that's being hosted by the St. Thomas-St. John Arts Council at the Renaissance Grand Beach Resort.
Dozens of the territory's not-for-profit arts and cultural preservation groups have been invited to send representatives to the daylong presentation. The objective, according to the letter of invitation, is for them "to come together, explore issues of common concern and determine whether they are interested in pursuing a collective approach to addressing these and/or other matters."
The organizations have been asked to send representatives knowledgeable about the operations, budget and oversight of their groups.
Among topics to be address are access to community funding resources, access to exhibition and performance venues, outreach to the public through the news media and interface with the tourism industry. Representatives of these areas of concern have been asked to participate in panel discussions in the afternoon.
Also on the agenda is discussion of the concept of a United Arts campaign similar to the United Way appeal. Such an approach has been implemented in a number of mainland communities as a structured way of raising funds collectively for participating arts organizations, Arts Council board member Clarence Cuthbertson said.
Another idea to be bounced about, symposium committee member Mary Blazine said, is for multiple not-for-profit arts groups to share office facilities and staff. "Many groups simply don't have the resources to pay office rent and hire professional people for day-to-day operations," she said. "Doing so collectively would be one way of overcoming this obstacle."
At the end of the symposium, the Arts Council will ask participants to decide collectively whether they are interested in taking part in a more in-depth arts summit meeting to pursue issues raised during the day. If the response is positive, the Art Council will take the lead in organizing such a gathering in the fall.
Groups from throughout the territory have been invited to take part in Saturday's session. Recognizing that many interested entities on St. Croix might not be able to send representatives because of travel costs, the invitation letter stated, "We encourage St. Croix groups to pool their resources and send a limited number of representatives willing and able to articulate the interests and concerns of all and report back to all."
In addition, the Arts Council will send out a report of the symposium deliberations to all invited groups, as well as to any other entities that may request a copy.
The St .Thomas-St. John Arts Council is a not-for-profit, membership-based arts advocacy organization. It is not related to the Virgin Island Council on the Arts, the government agency that is responsible for disseminating National Endowment for the Arts funds in the territory.
Anyone wishing information about the symposium should call 693-7765 or 776-4812.
