About the Berkeley Arts Council

Communities in West Virginia and many parts of the country have demonstrated that a robust arts community can be a strong catalyst for economic development and growth.

A successful arts community provides a rich cultural life for all members of the community and supports a “creative economy” by attracting twenty-first century businesses and the educated work force that comes with them.

A successful arts community provides an environment that supports all kinds of businesses including artists and related businesses, attracts tourism and revenue, and provides income and jobs for artists and artisans.

The common element of successful arts communities is an independent umbrella organization that supports an organized, active, and broadly cooperative arts community.

The Berkeley County Arts Council was formed to provide unified communication, promotion, support and advocacy for the arts community in Berkeley County, West Virginia.

The Berkeley Arts Council will:

• be an independent entity that will work for the benefit of the overall arts community without bias for any one organization;
• build communication and interaction among arts organizations and with community organizations by means of various activities such as an Arts Bulletin, a web site, and a Speakers’ Bureau;
• contribute actively to the success of existing organizations by promoting activities, identifying potential grants or donations, recruiting volunteers, and developing a clearinghouse for resources including physical space;
• support increased frequency, quality and variety of arts-related events; and facilitate activities that extend arts throughout the community;
• promote and advertise Berkeley County arts events locally and within our region;
• seek volunteerism, funding and other resources to increase the presence of the arts in the Berkeley County school system.
• seek to qualify Berkeley County as a Certified Arts Community by the WV Commission on the Arts;
• advocate for the arts to local and state government; and seek to open avenues for increased funding for the arts from public and private sources.
• identify and develop more and improved resources for the arts, including finances, facilities and expertise