The Arts & Humanities Association of Johnson County was founded in 1992. In 2003, it became the Arts Council of Johnson County. Unlike the centralized arts scene found in the Crossroads, Johnson County’s arts community is dispersed, spanning several suburban communities south of downtown. There’s no shortage of talented artists and curators living or practicing in Johnson County– we’re big fans of artists like Anne Pearce and Ke-Sook Lee, just two of the many contributors to our local and regional arts scene.
Shooting Stars Scholarship Recipients
Besides supporting established artists, The Arts Council is a huge proponent of young and emerging artists, through initiatives like the Shooting Stars Program. The program awards college scholarships to high schoolers based on their artistic achievements. It’s clearly making a difference in the lives of emerging artists. One forming recipient of the Shooting Stars Scholarship, ReShawn Griffin, currently has a solo exhibition at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art.
Epsten Gallery
Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art
Compelled by amazing exhibitions at the Epsten Gallery and the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art and inspired by great JOCO businesses like KC Strings and Woodyard BBQ, Josh joined the Arts Council’s Board of Directors in 2010. We’re excited to announce that in 2011, Josh was elected President. Upon being elected, he spent late nights studying and rehearsing Robert’s Rules of Order.
Last year, led by director Sarah VanLanduyt, the Arts Council put in a great deal of hard work to revamp their website and branding, holding public forums with artists, arts educators, and arts leaders to hone the process. Their input ensured that the new identity accurately reflects the mission of the organization: to enhance the quality of life in the community by strengthening the arts. Check it out at www.artsjoco.org, the results are fantastic. Josh looks forward to expanding the board this year, forming new partnerships for the Arts Council, and building a network that serves as a true arts hub for Johnson County.
Josh with Executive Committee Member David Oliver (L) and Past President Blake Schreck (R)
Posted on January 26th, 2012 at 5:26 pm by eldo