Local Citizens Band Together To Draft Prescott Art Policy

"The first artisans to arrive in Prescott were the men and women that built the Governor's mansion and the Territorial Legislative Assembly meeting place with hand tools and the materials that they found locally. These works of art, completed in the Fall of 1864 stand today on the grounds of the Sharlot Hall Museum, which has been financially supported by the City of Prescott since the original founding agreements in 1927.

"With the first Governor's party, musical instruments were brought so that the children could celebrate Christmas in 1864 with music, dancing and gifts.

"Their work was preceded by the creation of the Citizen's Cemetery with the earliest interment in 1864. Soon after elaborate and ornate tombstones started to appear, and then native stone wall in the 1930's.

"Throughout the early years in Prescott, performances were created, costumed and acted by the townspeople and families stationed at the Army Post in Fort Whipple. Opera houses and small theatres built by entrepreneurs popped up over the years, until through a popular subscription campaign the Elks Opera House came into existence.

"Artists of all genres have made Prescott their hometown over the years. Actors brought writers, followed by painters, sculptors, choral and musicians.

"In 1964, when this building was constructed, Paul Coze, then the Honorary Consul to Arizona from France, was asked to paint this mural in Council chambers. Also within the Council chambers are two paintings by "Artist of Arizona" Kate T. Cory-the 1880's Courthouse and the first school in the territory-now the Washington traditional school on East Gurley.

"Clearly, Prescott enjoys remarkable assets, both natural and man made. From the original design of the townsite, to street embellishments, historic buildings, magnificent sculptures and murals. The only missing element is for the City of Prescott to adopt policy and procedures in the form of an ordinance to call out the specifics of a public arts policy to provide the appropriate guidance for the elected and appointed officials, and especially for the citizens.

"Prescott Area Arts and Humanities Council was formed as a non-profit in 1974 to seek out funds to bring arts and culture to the City of Prescott. Its very first endeavor was to bring "ARTRAIN" to the Santa Fe Depot for five days, so that children from throughout the county could see displays of art from around the world. Five cars were filled with the very best art for children to experience and enjoy. This gathering was the largest gathering of people in Prescott until our recent BEST FEST. Prescott Area Arts and Humanities Council was involved with Best Fest from the very start, and put together the best of artists from across the State for that celebration, and will be doing that again this upcoming weekend in Phoenix.

"PAAHC mission is to support, promote and advocate for the arts. In cooperation with the City of Prescott, we have accomplished this for the past several years by administering the City's art grants funding. These funds have been utilized over the years for organizations offering wonderful public art events like: The Phippen Museum's Western Art Show and Sale, Mountain Artist's Guild Mother's Day Show, The Smoki Museum's Southwest Indian Arts Festival, Blue Grass Festival, Tsunami on the Square, Chalk It Up!, Prescott Center for the Arts "Ghost Talk" and many, many others. The City's Department of Tourism recognizes the importance of art in our community ... Don Prince, Director of Tourism has stated that "Art is a major tourism destination driver." And just yesterday, Prescott's Arts and Culture video went live on the Tourism website featuring some of the very best in art that Prescott has to offer.

"A small group of individuals, citizen volunteers, have come together to DRAFT an Arts and Culture Policy for the City of Prescott. I would like to recognize these individuals now: Elisabeth Ruffner, Historian and Founder of PAAHC Gregg Payne-can't be here today. Former Commissioner for the Arts in Chico, CA and a founding member of that Commission ... and a public artist Elynn Colaianni, Art Teacher at Northpointe High School Debra Owen, Arts Activist and Community Organizer Cindy Gresser, Executive Director Smoki Museum.