Photos, video and story by Edie Johnson, Editor, Orange County Courier Journal
In Montgomery's beautifully restored City Winery the expansive meeting room was filled to capacity with participants visiting and doing business updates with friends for an hour while many waited to hear thenew Director of OCAC (Orange County Arts Council) , Todd Hulet, who mingled through the crowd, meeting many of the local artists he will be working to help support.
Hulet spoke for about 40 minutes. He was witty, intelligent and sensitive as he described some expansive changes in the Council and how it works, hoping to improve its sustainability, and the practical help that it seeks to offer local artists . He had to briefly pause as he described the inspiration he received from his grandmother who had told him that while she had never been an artist or performer, "I am an appreciator". Future changes include bringing in some less commonly recognized art forms, (appreciated by a greater variety of people), and promoting the arts in a way to develop a much more participatory and cohesive arts community in Orange County.
The vision comes from his total of over 20 years of experience in the arts, including facilitating individuals in the performing arts through drama, acting and performing music and art himself as well as writing and producing a play. The Council will seek other arts such as fibre artists, musicians, drama and open air performers, ceramics, digital art and many other art forms with the hope that a wider county population will appreciate and participate. Following that he plans data collection and a report on the "State of the Arts in Orange County" for future improvement, and so the public and government can gain a greater understanding of how the arts impact county finances, both small and big business, tourism and the whole community on a personal basis.
The presentation upstairs was to a full audience. Glittering vats were as
much pieces of art as functional beer and wine processing containers. The downstairs "afterparty-meet and greet" was like stepping into an earlier century.
His vision for the new Council includes a desire to expand to 20 members with differing skills, and urged anyone interested in being on this new board to make contact through the Arts Council Website. He added a promise that the amount of work board membership will entail will not be overwhelming and will consider the availability of time of the individua member.
Most of the attendees also went down to the basement entertainment room, which was replete with its fascinating antique metalworks.
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