Art has been working all around us while we hold another meeting about whether it is essential.

And yes, the pretty picture deserves to be paid for, too. Frame and all.

Here in Augusta, the arts contribute to our economy in ways that deserve far more attention. Cultural events bring customers into restaurants, guests into hotels, and business to vendors. Producing those experiences requires work across sound, staging, lighting, security, sanitation, transportation, and more.

Somebody must build the stage. Somebody must make sure you can hear the singer. And somebody absolutely must come behind all that celebration with a trash bag.

Creativity puts a lot of people to work.

The Greater Augusta Arts Council has long worked in partnership with the city and was formally designated Augusta’s Public Art Agency in 2012. That work includes helping connect creative talent with public projects and supporting the art that belongs to our shared community.

Then there is Arts in the Heart of Augusta, whose economic reach extends well beyond the artists’ booths and performance stages. Behind that weekend is a network of people and businesses working to make the experience possible.

You see a festival. I see artists, production crews, small businesses, cultural organizations, hospitality workers, and a whole lot of invoices with actual people attached to them.

The arts support quality of life. They also support families.

That part deserves a stronger microphone.

Every creative in Augusta deserves access, fair pay, advocacy, respect, and opportunity. Access means having the tools to do the work, a place to show it, a chance to learn, and a fair opportunity to be hired. It means a young person’s creative future should not depend entirely on whether their family can afford the equipment.

Exposure can be useful. But the average working creative could use a little less exposure and a little more money.

The power company remains remarkably uninterested in how many people saw your performance. I have yet to find the “pay with applause” option on a utility bill.

Our voices can help decision-makers understand the full value of this work. Artists, audiences, businesses, and residents all have something to contribute to that conversation. When you purchase the art, hire the creative, become a member, or speak up for funding, you help turn appreciation into opportunity.

Now, let me step down from this soapbox. Carefully. These knees have other engagements.

Apparently, this was supposed to be my November update.

October found me working to grow memberships, seek sponsorships and donations, develop partnerships, and build relationships that can help sustain the Greater Augusta Arts Council throughout the year.

There have been calls, meetings, follow-ups, introductions, and conversations about what our community needs and how we can respond. There have also been emails about the emails, because apparently that is an entire category of work.

And guess what? We have made progress.

People are listening. Connections are growing. Support is coming in, and every person who says, “Let’s talk about how I can help,” gives us another opportunity to move this work forward.

Membership is central to that progress. It gives the Greater Augusta Arts Council a stronger base of support for advocacy, resources, and service. It also brings more people into the conversation about what Augusta’s creative community needs next.

Your membership helps give us the ability to do MORE. More connecting. More access. More opportunities to respond when someone comes through our door with talent, an idea, and absolutely no idea where to begin.

We have so much on the horizon that you may flip your beautiful top when we can finally share it all. I am keeping a few things tucked away until the details are ready. You know I enjoy a good reveal, but I also enjoy having the details confirmed before everybody starts asking where to park.

Among our upcoming events is Unfinished Conversations, an exhibition in collaboration with the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library.

Art opens the conversation. Community keeps it going.

I am looking forward to the stories, perspectives, and exchanges this exhibition can invite. Sometimes a work of art gives us a way into a conversation we have been trying to figure out how to have.

We are also preparing for the Wet Paint Party & Art Auction, where artists gain visibility, connect with buyers, and earn income from their work.

I am still searching for the theme, because apparently, I cannot simply put some art in a room and behave myself. There must be a little atmosphere. Possibly a soundtrack. Certainly, a reason to put on something cute and come home with art.

And in between all of this, please remember that we still have lives over here.

We have experienced losses. We have loved on our people, shown up for one another, and made room for the things that keep us going. The calendar may be full of work, but life continues to ask for our attention, too.

I sang at church, which gave my voice an assignment beyond explaining why the arts need funding. I attended a beautiful Legacy Gala supporting Creative Impressions’ 30^thYear and its founder Ms. Evelyn Ellis and enjoyed being in a room celebrating the work of other creatives.

One of our board members also hosted a creative fundraiser for the Greater Augusta Arts Council called “A Cup of Soul.” And that is where Dorian put me to WORK.

I learned how to make coffee. Hands-on. Behind the counter. Cute coffee with cute names. I thought I might smile, greet people, and offer a few encouraging words. Dorian apparently saw a barista.

There were ingredients. There were instructions. There was actual responsibility in a cup.

And I had BIG fun.

That experience was also a lovely reminder of what support can look like. Someone took an idea, brought people together, and created a way to give. There is room for that kind of imagination in fundraising, and I am grateful for everyone willing to put theirs to work for the Greater Augusta Arts Council.

I traveled to Virginia, made a few memories, and even managed to get a little rest somewhere in the middle of it all. Yes, rest made the calendar. Briefly, but we are counting it.

Through the busy days, the challenges, and the unexpected coffee training, one thing remains true: I LOVE my job.

I love the people, the possibility, and the moments when a connection turns into something useful for someone else. I love seeing an artist gain confidence, a partner lean in, or a young person realize that their creativity has somewhere to go.

I love it enough to make it through the seasonal hecklers who arrive around Arts in the Heart with their observations, strong opinions, and occasional expertise acquired approximately twelve minutes earlier.

What is a festival without a little pushback? Apparently, even the feedback wants a performance slot.

We listen, learn, make adjustments, and keep working. There is too much good here to let a little noise have the whole microphone.

Now, Giving Tuesday is coming, and I need you to put those generous fingers to work. When our campaign reaches you, please push the button, make a gift, and share it with someone who believes Augusta’s creative community deserves support.

Your applause and congratulations are appreciated. I receive them with love. A membership tucked behind them would be beautiful. Contrary to popular belief, membership in the Greater Augusta Arts Council does not come with a chore chart. We welcome your financial support, your voice, and your belief in the work. Volunteering is always appreciated but never required! Then, if you so desire, join us in June for our Annual Meeting & Gala. Eat, drink, vote, and be merry. Supporting the arts should come with a little celebration!

Become a member. Consider a monthly donation. Include the Greater Augusta Arts Council in your year-end giving. Your consistent support helps us plan, respond, and serve throughout the year.

You can also help us reach people we have not met yet. Invite me to speak to your business, civic group, congregation, or neighborhood association. Invite the Greater Augusta Arts Council to have a table at your event. Give us an opportunity to explain the work beyond the festival and learn more about yours.

And bring your needs to us. Tell us what is missing, what you are trying to create, and where you could use a connection or a resource. We may be able to help. At the very least, let’s have the conversation.

When you hear a little less from us outside the festival season, trust that we are working. We are answering questions, seeking funding, connecting people, advocating, and preparing for what comes next.

Occasionally, we are also learning to make a very cute coffee.

Fund the arts. There are people, families, and futures attached.

Keep doing good work, Augusta, and keep talking artsy.

With love and a very full calendar,

Denise