Some sad news, sent this afternoon by Arts Council board member Vernon Danielsen. In October, the Arts Council dismissed all its employees, saying money had run out. Read my story on the employee layoff here.

Arts Council of the Blue Ridge Announces Cessation of Operations

 The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge regrets to announce that it will cease operations effective December 15, 2012 after thirty four years of advocacy and support to the arts community in the region.  Financial challenges have forced this unfortunate decision by the Board of Directors.

To ensure that activities of the Arts Council will continue, the Board has worked with various organizations in the area to take over the key activities of the Council. Several important activities such as the Arts Calendar, the artists’ directory and website, will now be handled by the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). The CVB will take over the Arts Calendar, the artists’ directory and the website.  Artists and arts organizations who were members of the Arts Council can expect to be contacted by the CVB in the near future. The Board of the Arts Council wishes to thank the CVB for their willingness to support of the arts community by taking over the activities mentioned.

Additional activities of the Arts Council are in the process of being transferred to other organizations in the region. Details will be forthcoming by the organizations who have assumed the responsibility of these activities.

The Board appreciates those in the region who have provided strong support to The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge over the last three decades.  Questions may be directed to any of the former Board of Directors of the Arts Council.