HELEN — The Helen Arts and Heritage Center is celebrating 10 years of operation as a civic and community center for the people of Helen, White County and beyond.
HAHC President Nancy Ackerman reported on the organization’s operations during Tuesday morning’s Helen City Commission meeting.
Ackerman was joined during her presentation by veteran William Reed of Mt. Airy, who tearfully told of the impact the Veteran Art Program offered by the HAHC has had on his life.
“I’m a disabled veteran,” Reed said. “I served 18 years active duty. This program has helped me out a lot, and it’s gotten me out of the house and involved in art. I feel that it is very important just to help keep me going, and to help other veterans. It helps us all get together and Lisa [Cahill] and Nancy have been wonderful in supporting us and helping us, and it really means a lot.”
Supported during his talk by Veteran Art Program Director and Craft Care Specialist Lisa Cahill, a director and art therapist, Reeves told how the program has helped gain his confidence and self-worth back, and how it got him involved in the community again.
Ackerman said the program is just one of those offered by the HAHC that reaches out to members of the community who need an outreach.
“We are all volunteers working to maintain a constant, and as a result we are now at a crossroad,” Ackerman told commissioners. “We need funding if we are to continue serving the community and meeting the needs of the underserved.”
On behalf of the Helen Arts & Heritage Council Inc., which serves as the board of directors for the HAHC, Ackerman asked commissioners to consider providing funding in an amount similar to that provided to the Helen Library.
Ackerman requested the commission consider $20,000 in funding for 2017, $30,000 for 2018, $40,000 for 2019 and $50,000 for 2020.
“It just goes to show that art is not only fun, it can be healing,” said Mayor Helen Wilkins.
Wilkins said the commission will have to think about it, talk about it and see what can be done.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2017/4/520964/helen-arts-heritage-center-seeks-funding-to-take-arts-center-to-next-level