The Leesburg Town Council tomorrow will vote on its fresh-faced Performing Arts Commission bylaws.
The new commission, with its handbook approved in May, intends to promote performing arts through public education and work alongside the Town Council advocating for the industry by getting community decision makers on board with programs and creating opportunities for artists.
Commission Chair Melike Konur said the commission began its work in January. With seven members from different corners of the performing arts field, she said the commission plans to use its expertise towards a long-term vision that will have the “greatest impact on the town.”
“We are coming together with a strategic vision for advocacy to educate not only community members that don’t know much about the arts, but artists,” Konur said. She said the commission aims to build a narrative around what the performing arts does for a community, social cohesion, wellness and the economy.
“Kind of hitting on ways to bring everybody in and have this level of literacy where we can create a baseline for knowledge and build them a strategic vision alongside council,” Konur said.
The commission plans a physical and digital brochure for their public education campaign. The brochure clarifies what constitutes performing art, including theater and drama, live music, spoken word performances, standup comedy, interdisciplinary and immersive arts and culturally specific and indigenous arts.
Konur said she hopes the commission will be a sounding board for nonprofits, arts organizations and artists who have a vision for the town.
During a council meeting in May, Konur said the handbook outlines the commission’s guidelines for evaluating and recommending performing artists and projects to council. The commission’s goal is to “ensure that every proposed project reflects the cultural vibrancy, values, and priorities of the town of Leesburg,” she said.
The commission’s budget, which includes funding for an arts advocacy marketing campaign, was also approved during that meeting.
The town council will meet tomorrow at 7 p.m. in the council chamber to vote on approval for the Performing Arts Commission’s bylaws. The commission’s artist selection handbook can be found in their section of the town website.