The Lincoln Arts Council was formed in 1968, long before arts councils in most cities of comparable size. Programs of the council have changed over the years in response to community growth and the increasing professionalism of our arts organizations.
In the 1970s, an arts festival was held on Centennial Mall and the Mayor's Arts Awards established. In the 1980s, Miller and Paine hosted Arts in the Aisles for the council and a program was implemented to fund the arts through a special account at the Lincoln Foundation. The program continues to generate approximately $4,000 in interest each year for LAC to distribute in regrants. In the 1990s, the council initiated and sustained a Saturday Arts Academy.
One of the largest projects undertaken by the council during those years was the development of a cultural plan funded through a city of Lincoln contract. ArtsMarketing of Boston gathered information from arts organizations, artists, educators, city leaders and other segments of the community. The plan was unveiled in 1990 and, while it continues to influence programs and efforts of the council, the current board is developing a strategic plan that will see the council through the next decade.
The new plan establishes four areas of primary concentration: development of partners in the public and private sectors to support the arts; building the capacity of cultural organizations and artists and promotion of public arts; leadership and advocacy, and infrastructure and resource development.
The composition of the board has responded to the needs of the community and, today, strives for a healthy representation from all sectors. Staff development has enabled the board to evolve from administering operations to a policy and governance board.
