The Cultural Arts Foundation board Bett Freeman, Joe Hooven, Diana Jones, Monique Haviland, and Todd Whear.
Photo special to The R-C
Heading into 2025, The Cultural Arts Foundation is ready to expand the arts in Douglas County with their 3 “C’s” model; “create,” “connect,” and “collaborate.”
The Cultural Arts Foundation of Douglas County supports local artists and brings renewed vision to the art community.
Founded in 2021, the Cultural Arts Foundation identified a gap in the arts and have been working to bridge that gap, bringing artists together and expanding the definition and focus of community art from theatre, dance, and music, to paint, drawing, and sculpture.
The current board is made up of art influencers who are also community artists and leaders with a mission to “give back” through the arts.
In following the 3 “C” model, the Art Council has some projects in the works.
The Foundation has already collaborated on many local events including providing venues for local musicians such as the Brats, Bands, and Brews Summerfest, the monthly Wine Down Wednesdays in partnership with CV Flyte and Mainstreet Gardnerville, The Coffin Race/Fall Fest, The Hot Air For Hope Balloon and Cultural Arts Festival, and the Back Country Music Festival.
The Foundation also wants to provide online services for artists, whether it’s helping them create their own or a space on the Cultural Arts Foundation website.
“We want to be a hub for the cultural arts,” said Todd Whear.
The Foundation’s goal is to create an events center where artists can create, connect, and collaborate together while providing them with the space to showcase their talents.
The vision is 500-750 capacity events center designed like a barn to match the feel of Douglas County. It will include a stage both indoor and outdoor for Shakespeare in the Park, and outdoor concert series with table and chairs, Artist’s Lofts where artists can create and sell their art, recording studios, and educational rooms.
“We have a lot of talented artists here with not a lot of options for them to create and display their work,” said Whear. “We want to create that space for them.”
The Foundation is a 501c3 that thrives to create platforms that showcase local talents and beyond, while connecting and collaborating with artists of disciplines in the community to engage with arts advocates, and partner with organizations to enhance the arts, culture, and commerce of Douglas County.
Visit the Carson Valley Arts Foundation website at https://cafdc.com/ for more information.
