About
History
The Springfield Regional Arts Council was incorporated (as the Springfield Area Arts Council) in September 1978. The purpose was recorded as follows:
A not-for-profit corporation; to foster, promote and encourage the existing cultural and educational organizations of the City and its environs; to assist in the establishment of new cultural facilities in the field where none exist; to coordinate the cultural and educational activities of the City and its environs so as to avoid overlapping and duplication of efforts; to receive and disburse funds to implement the foregoing.
The original signers of the incorporation papers were Jeanne Kramer, Sam Freeman and Steven Lewis.
Programs
The Arts Council successfully promoted and marketed the arts in the years that followed and launched Artsfest in Phelps Grove Park in 1980, and moved it to historic Walnut Street in 1990. In recent years, Artsfest on Walnut Street has attracted 35,000 people and has begun incorporating some additional activities in the nearby Jordan Valley Park.
In 1990, First Night Springfield was begun. This program has local support and, while still be subsidized by the SRAC, is expected to grow just as Artsfest has. Since 1997, both festivals have been operated under a management contract with the Urban Districts Alliance.
In 2001, the Arts Council was given the opportunity to lead a Cultural Trust initiative, working with the Missouri Arts Council to build endowments for regional arts organizations. In October 2001, the Arts Council changed its name to the Springfield Regional Arts Council, with the goal of becoming a full-service arts council for the region. It also implemented the First Friday Art Walk.
Staff
We have been told the first staff member was David R. Pinson, who served as executive director of the Springfield Area Arts Council in 1981. He came to the Arts Council after graduating from Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University). His career progressed with work for the Missouri Arts Council, the Kansas City Arts Council, the Mid-America Arts Alliance, the Saint Louis Art Fair and the Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver, CO. He now acts as a consultant to the cultural industry. Subsequent directors included Philip McGuire, Carolyn Gerdes and Barb Baker.
Current staff members are:
- Sandra CH Smith, Executive Director
- Leah Hamilton, Education Director
- Amanda Rehani, Finance Director
- Mika Logan, Education Assistant
- Leslie Forrester, Arts Education Outreach Coordinator
- Cayce Schulz, Administrative Assistant for Program Development
In addition, there are several active volunteers and interns working part-time hours. The SRAC has developed a solid internship program with three of the local universities: Southwest Missouri State, Drury, and Evangel.
The City’s Cultural Blueprint for the Arts was adopted in 1997, and has been updated and revised under the leadership of the Arts Council and in consultation with ArtsMarket, a firm from Boise, Idaho. Development of the plan has included community focus groups, surveys, and a needs assessment. The new Cultural Plan is part of the City-County Comprehensive Plan.
The SRAC has accepted an agreement with the City of Springfield to restore an 1890s warehouse building in Jordan Valley Park. Plans are to renovate the building for use as an Arts and Culture Center, providing educational activities for the community. Staff officially moved into the partially renovated facility as of September 1, 2002.