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2 <br /> 1. Introduction of New County Arts Director and Update on County Arts <br /> Activities/Future Goals <br /> Bonnie Hammersley introduced the new Orange County Arts Commission Director, <br /> Katie Murray. <br /> Katie Murray reviewed the following background information, and PowerPoint <br /> presentation: <br /> Over the last two months, Orange County Arts Commission (OCAC) Director Katie Murray has <br /> been meeting with stakeholders in the arts community to determine the future direction of the <br /> Commission. Historically, the primary role of OCAC has been one of grant funder to artists <br /> and arts organizations. While this will remain a significant role of the commission, the director, <br /> as well as County Management and the OCAC Advisory Board, believe the commission can <br /> serve the arts community of Orange County in a more significant way. <br /> In addition to grants, a needs assessment has resulted in the identification of several areas of <br /> assistance for the County's arts community. <br /> 1. Promotion/Marketing <br /> Most of the 177 arts-related organizations within the county are nonprofit organizations with <br /> limited marketing budgets, working to promote only their own programs and projects. The <br /> OCAC can help to further promote arts happenings for the entire county through an enhanced <br /> social media presence, an improved e-newsletter, a more engaging website and new media <br /> campaigns. <br /> 2. Unification of arts community <br /> One common complaint among arts stakeholders has been a lack of communication within the <br /> arts community, both within similar groups (i.e. theater groups, galleries), organizations within <br /> the same community, and communication among the three primary communities of Chapel Hill, <br /> Carrboro and Hillsborough. <br /> 3. Coordination of county-wide arts projects <br /> Again resulting from the fact that most county arts entities are working within the confines of <br /> the nonprofit world (limited resources and time), most organizations are strictly focused on their <br /> own mission. There is a lack of projects that benefit the greater arts community and promote, <br /> on a larger scale, the arts of Orange County. The communities within Orange County are <br /> heavily saturated in the arts. This fact, combined with a demonstrated commitment to the arts <br /> by County management and the Board of County Commissioners, means that Orange County <br /> could potentially serve as a major arts destination. By helping to promote, unify and <br /> contribute to the overall arts community, the OCAC will serve as the catalyst to make the <br /> arts a primary identity and economic driver for Orange County. <br /> The resulting goals from these observations are to be determined at the Arts Commission <br /> retreat on Saturday, November 19, 2016. <br /> The Arts and Orange County <br /> A Summary of the state of the arts in Orange County, NC <br /> Orange County Arts Commission <br /> Katie Murray <br />