Arts across the Delaware

The Wayne County Arts Alliance grows up

By NANCY DYMOND

HONESDALE, PA — Headquartered in the Wayne County seat of Honesdale, the Wayne County Arts Alliance (WCAA), which gained nonprofit status in 2002, began with a small group of artists interested in promoting a county-wide artist studio tour. The organization soon skyrocketed to public attention with its next two endeavors: the cleverly titled “Wayne Deer Games,” artist-decorated deer that graced the entrances and foyers of Wayne County business sponsors’ establishments, and the “International Food Tasting,” a $10 per ticket sampling of ethnic foods cooked by WCAA members that was held first in the United Methodist Church in Honesdale and later, due to its phenomenal success, at the high school.

Since that time, the WCAA has undergone a number of changes, continuing to expand its offerings to artists and to the community. A headquarters became a reality two years ago when the organization was offered an office space at a discounted rate on Main Street in Honesdale. In January of this year, the WCAA, with its capable director of a year and a half, Tamara Murray, at the helm, moved to a more compatible space within the same building. In the new office they have installed a rotating gallery with exhibits that change monthly.

Only six years old, the WCAA has established itself as a voice for the arts in Northeastern PA. Murray sees the organization as a grassroots effort to build bridges among artists, art organizations, businesses, schools and the community-at-large. The WCAA encourages art-oriented approaches, stressing a commonality of goals in its dealings with the business community, remaining ever aware of the needs of the local economy. “I recently read a Dun & Bradstreet report that employment by arts-related businesses has grown 11.6 percent throughout the country,” Tamara related. “I believe that supports the idea that the arts play a significant role in building and sustaining a creative and economic, vibrant community. We are assisting not only the cultural growth but the economic growth and revitalization.”

Evidence of that trend here in Wayne County can be seen in the number of new art galleries that have opened and are set to open within the year. Two of the Studio Tour artists have opened galleries in the past 12 months, and the WCAA has established a working relationship with the new South Street Gallery in Waymart. Tamara feels this trend is an indication of the economy’s shift from an industrial to an information society. “If you look at the people who are being attracted to this region,” she said, “ you see people who want to go back to their painting or their poetry. I think there’s a real shift of consciousness happening here.”

Looking forward, the board has envisioned a Living Museum/Cultural Arts Center as a long-range goal. So far, the WCAA has been doing everything by collaborating with other organizations, but they are beginning to feel the need for a place that’s accessible to the whole community, something that includes gallery space and an auditorium, classroom and office space: a central facility where the talent of the area could be showcased.

The success of the original Wayne Deer Games has been echoed in each subsequent year. Following the deer were the Adirondack chairs called “County Seats,” then the “Hour Town” artist-decorated clocks. This year, the summer arts program is called “Benchmark.” It will feature 50 artist-decorated benches that will be displayed all summer at the Wayne County businesses that become sponsors for the program. From the end of May until mid-August, when the benches will be sold at the popular auction fundraiser, free maps of the “Benchmark” locations will be available at sponsor locations and at the Wayne County Visitors Association.

The sixth Open Studio Tour, which is free to the public and runs from July 25 to July 27, is a wonderful opportunity for people to go and see artists working in their own studios. Open Studio Headquarters, where people can see a sample of each artist’s work and meet with volunteers to help them plan their tour, will be at the Central Park Gallery at 914 Church Street, Honesdale.

Grants are underway to request funding for several new programs: “Upstage,” intended as a family-accessible featured performance with open mic program, and a grant to secure a venue for musical productions.

Programs and events sponsored or co-sponsored by the WCAA

Weekly: Monday Night Cinema

Monthly: Writers Workshop, Life Drawing

June 21: Roots & Rhythm Music and Arts Festival

July 25–27: Open Studio Tour

August: “Benchmark” Auction

October: Writers Symposium

Other: Living Treasures DVD Project, Fine Arts Scholarship Awards

Contact Information

Executive Director: Tamara Murray

Wayne County Arts Alliance

742 Main St., Suite 201

Honesdale, PA 18431

Phone: 570/253-6850

Email: wcaa@waynecountyartsalliance.org

Website: waynecountyartsalliance.org