Help Shape the Future Arts Council for the Charlottesville Area

This is a unique opportunity to co-create the vision for the future of our region's arts and culture ecosystem. Let’s build it together—with intention, imagination, and care.
To ensure this work is shaped by the people the Arts Council would serve, we are forming a Steering Committee that will guide the planning process, review findings, and co-create recommendations.
In order to encourage open and candid conversations and ensure an objective approach to equitably serving the arts and culture community and the larger Charlottesville community, this 7-month study is facilitated by an outside consultant, Ruby Lopez Harper, who was responsible for supporting 4,500 local arts agencies with tools, training, and resources during her time at Americans for the Arts.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

Charlottesville, Albemarle, and the surrounding counties have a robust arts and culture sector but lack a centralized, coordinated structure to support its creative communities. A collaborative, community-led effort is now underway to explore the creation of a future Arts Council for the Charlottesville area—one that is equitable, accessible, and focused on making it possible for artists to live, work, and thrive here.

This process is being facilitated by an independent consultant, Ruby Lopez Harper, and supported in partnership with New City Arts Initiative with funding from UVA Arts, the City of Charlottesville, The FUNd at CACF, CACVB, and the Anne & Gene Worrell Foundation.

To ensure this work is shaped by the people the Arts Council would serve, we are forming a Steering Committee that will guide the planning process, review findings, and co-create recommendations. We invite artists, cultural workers, organizers, educators, and community members to self-nominate and take part. To acknowledge their time and contributions, steering committee members will receive a $500 honorarium.

●      Offer insights and feedback throughout the planning process
●      Help shape the vision, values, and proposed structure of a future Arts Council
●      Elevate community needs and ideas through collaborative discussion
●      Attend monthly virtual meetings from August 2025 through January 2026
We’re seeking individuals who:
●      Live or work in the Charlottesville area region including the surrounding counties*
●      Are involved in or deeply care about the arts, culture, and creative communities
●      Represent a range of disciplines, identities, and experiences
●      Believe in and practice equity, collaboration, and community-centered leadership

I'D LIKE TO BE ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE

This is a unique opportunity to co-create the vision for the future of our region's arts and culture ecosystem. Let’s build it together—with intention, imagination, and care.