The Lake Arts Council was founded in 1983 and their office is located in Osage Beach, MO. Their service area covers several counties which surround the Lake of the Ozarks.
What types of community arts programs/services does your organization offer?
The Lake Arts Council presents Performing Art, Visual Art, Literary Art and Children’s programming to the Camden, Morgan and Miller Counties that surround the Lake of the Ozarks. Our goal is to connect the people of our community through the arts in every discipline including music, theater, dance, painting, photography, fiber arts and literary art. In an effort to reach more members of the community, we have partnered with fourteen local art organizations to attain that goal.
The Lake Arts Council (LAC) strives to make the community aware of all art related events that are going on in our tri-county area whether or not they are part of our organization. We do so by sending out a monthly Newsletter Email Blast, maintain a Community Event Calendar on our website, and share other art groups events on our Facebook page. Our office is equipped with a lending closet with display screens, tri-pods, banners and visual arts supplies to share with artists and art organizations. Office gallery space is also available to all local artists.
What do you feel is the best program/service your organization offers, and why?
We are most proud of our Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) touring program that we are bringing to the Lake of the Ozarks for the twelfth year this July at no cost to the participants. The MCT provides a one-week theatrical experience to 64 children in the Lake area that range in age from first grade thru twelfth grade. This program based out of Missoula, MT has been touring all fifty states and seventeen foreign countries over the last 43 years. The two Tour Directors arrive in the host city on the Sunday before the scheduled program week begins on Monday. They arrive in their “little red truck” equipped with all of the stage props, costumes, scripts and all other necessary items to produce two performances at the end of their week-long stay.
In addition to the daily rehearsals and the two live performances at the end of the week, the Touring Directors offer a variety of workshops to help the children learn all facets of theater. The developmental life skills that are fostered by the program will have a positive effect on these children the rest of their lives. There are many children in our tri-county area that would not be able to participate in this program if there was a fee charged due to their parent’s economic situation. This educational program expands the children’s knowledge & appreciation of the arts for many years to come. According to the “Americans for the Arts”, a nationwide arts advocacy group, “Students with an education rich in arts have higher GPA’s and standardized test score and lower drop-out rates”.
How do you feel your organization contributes to your community and /or sense of community?
The Lake Arts Council takes pride in providing inclusive programs for young and old alike. We understand the need to have family-oriented projects and affordable pricing for families. The Lake of the Ozarks is typically thought of as a tourist destination during the summer months. However, the Lake is becoming a full-time, year-round home for many retirees and young adults with families and the school populations are increasing.
We present four large art shows a year and have categories for professional, amateur and children. Our art shows are always free to the viewing public and a unique opportunity for the community to view a wide variety of original art in one place in an area that is under-served by Art Galleries.
Another signature event for us is presenting the Missouri Symphony Orchestra from Columbia, MO for a summer “Pops” concert. They have been appearing here at the Lake for over fifteen years and the community expects them to return every year. We are very fortunate to have a world class orchestra in the Mid-Missouri area and Conductor Kirk Trevor always includes children on stage to direct the orchestra with their mini batons.
The LAC is a member of the four Lake area Chambers of Commerce & the Convention & Visitors Bureau giving us the opportunity to be fully aware of the needs of the community by attending their meetings and volunteering at their events.
CONTACT INFO:
Contact/Position: Paulette Horr, Administrative Assistant
Phone: 573-964-6366
Email: [email protected]
website: www.artsatthelake.com
facebook: https://facebook.com/lakeartscouncil
