Wednesday, May 15, 2024
GRANBURY CULTURAL ARTS
Stacey Watkins-Martin and Cora Werley are local artists and members with several others of the Granbury Cultural Arts Commission. Both work diligently with many other people and organizations to promote Granbury as the exciting arts destination it has become.
Some facts you may not know about the arts and culture industry — in Granbury and beyond:
1. The arts and culture industry generated $6 billion in taxable sales for the Texas economy in just one year.
2. That results in about $380 million in sales tax revenue in a year in Texas . . .
3. Nearly 845,000 Texans are employed in this industry — that is, 1 in 15 of your neighbors.
4. And who else does the art and culture industry benefit? restaurants, hotels, transportation . . . even construction and production industries.
5. What did people turn to for healing during the isolation of the pandemic? Art, of course. They made it, appreciated it, and shared it.
6. A strong art and culture industry is necessary to rekindle and support vigorous economic activity in our state.
7. Access to art levels the playing field because anyone — regardless of age, race, education, location, or socio-economic status — can celebrate the many free avenues to enjoying art and culture in Granbury.
Arts are useful for unifying people and groups and cities and counties. People can have a voice and still be at peace with others who appreciate different styles. But the very action of enjoying art unifies even the most dissimilar groups. Artists share their gifts with all of us — which engages the power of our emotions for the good of the community.
Granbury’s arts culture is known to be inviting to those seeking unity and peace and willing to be uplifted by what they encounter here. Because we provide our citizens and visitors with a growing and flourishing art environment that’s aesthetically pleasing, they leave with joyful memories and longings to return to see what else is coming. We are good at keeping things fresh to keep drawing people in and giving them new experiences.
Just remember … that could be lost. Without the voice of residents expressing themselves to their leaders how important arts are to people in their community, they won’t know. Even without a specific bill in front of our State Legislature or even a resolution in front of our City Council, we all have to keep our leaders — our congressmen, mayor, county judge, City Council members, and commissioners — in the know on the excitement in the arts community. It’s just a phone call.
Perfect examples: Tarleton State University is currently hosting the prestigious Rio Brazos Art Exhibition right here at the Langdon Center in Granbury, with a closing public reception on April 23 from 2-4 p.m. Then on June 2, the Granbury Art Alliance (GAA) will be doing the Dinner in White event. It’s fun to dress in white, decorate your table in white, bring your own dinner and just hang out together with your friends to celebrate. That event will feature an amazing jazz band as well as the Dan and Judy Coates Memorial Art Show and Sale with artists present to demonstrate their talent and pieces available for purchase to take home. Proceeds go to the GAA’s plans for a new sculpture in Shanley Park as well as its other worthwhile endeavors. www.tickettailor.com/events/granburyartsalliance/866468
srebal01@aol.com I 817-733-2118cwerley@werleylaw.com I 817-946-3865
