On the morning of Wednesday, January 27, the Clark County Board of Commissioners met in a work session to discuss the formation of a Clark County arts commission. It was decided to go ahead with the formation of the group whose exact name has not been determined.

According to Laurel Whitehurst, who spearheaded the project, she and former State Representative Val Ogden sat at the table with the staff as resources for the Clark County Board of Commissioners (CCBOC).

“[I] pointed out to the [CCBOC] that the S.W. Washington Center for the Arts board members learned from successes in Portland that it is imperative that business and professional people be involved because of their role as community leaders,” said Whitehurst. “They would have significant impact in gathering wide community support and funding,” she added
Whitehurst said, “The purpose of the meeting was for the Commissioners to ask questions and talk among themselves and with staff about the arts in Clark County.”

She said the group directed the staff to make a staff report as the next step towards creating a Clark County Arts Advisory Council/Board.

“All three Commissioners were in agreement to go forth with creating it,” she said.

Since the advocates understand that the county and cities have no money to contribute at this time because of the recession they are, according to Whitehurst, forming a non-profit foundation named Arts of Clark County to raise funds for the anticipated programming. It will take some time to form and incorporate the entity.

”There were more than twenty arts advocates from around the county observing the meeting,” said Whitehurst. These included Professor Dene Grigar of Washington State University and the Director of Battle Ground Parks, Debbie Hanson. Artists, gallery owners and writers from Battle Ground, Ridgefield, Amboy, Camas and Vancouver were represented.

There are approximately 48 Clark County arts groups and, according to the Columbia River Economic Development Council, more than 500 arts-related businesses in Clark County. These include photography, graphic design and video companies, radio stations, musicians, and movie-makers.