SIKESTON - Most artists will tell you the key to
success is visibility, and a new statewide project
will do one better than that.
The C.A.R.D. project, Creative Artist Resource
Directory, is a comprehensive listing of Missourians
who are individuals or groups working in the arts and
art-related services.
Coordinated by the Missouri Association of Community
Arts Agencies, the project is designed to create on
online directory, pair artists and communities to
create art projects, provide networking and workshops
for artists and create a touring roster.
"This is very exciting for our local artists and art
agencies," said Terry Matthews, Sikeston Missouri Arts
administrator. "It is a way for local artists to get
exposure and for art agencies to find area artists to
employ for their particular need."
The directory will include visual, performing, and
literary artists as individuals and groups, as well as
listing technical experts such as theater directors
and visual art judges.
The project is funded by the Missouri Arts Council and
National Endowment for the Arts.
"This project has been a long time dream of many art
directors and communities," noted Matthews. "It will
increase the capacity of existing small agencies and
address the needs of individual artists. Speaking from
my experience as an art administrator, I spend a lot
of time trying to find artists for SMARTS, Inc. to
come to Sikeston. When planning for the Cotton
Festival of the Arts and for other programs for
children in our public schools, the C.A.R.D. program
will have the artists already listed in the directory
to contact. This saves time and headache for people
needing a certain artist or program."
Matthews said the directory will be readily available
throughout the state to be used as a reference guide
for anyone in need of an artist. It will include
Missouri artists' phone numbers, addresses and email
sites for public or private events like the Cotton
Festival of the Arts and the Dogwood Azalea Festival.
"I have already been to the website many times," said
Matthews. "This will help me be able to find a better
selection of artists and artisan crafters to come to
our area. Also, the more artists who find out about
this opportunity, the more visibility they will have.
This will make community festivals more culturally
diverse.
"There are so many different areas of art that
sometimes the public doesn't think about," she said
mentioning visual artists like baskets weavers, those
who do caricatures, digital design as well as artists
who work with fiber, graphic, porcelain and video.
"The C.A.R.D. project will increase awareness of the
art already available in our surrounding communities.
We have metropolitan areas where art such as dance,
literature, music and theater can be sought out to
help teach us more diversity. If an art teacher wanted
to have a workshop for the art class on ceramics she
could go to www.MACAA.net and find area artists in
this field to come and do a demonstration for the
class," Matthews said.
To be included in the directory or for more
information access the website at MACAA.net or contact
Kristi Kittleson, project coordinator, at 417-882-3717
or via email at kris497094@aol.com
There is no cost to be part of the initial directory.