History of the Gila Valley Arts Council

The Gila Valley Arts Council was formed in 1985 to support and sponsor visual and performing arts in the Gila Valley and showcase local talent. Its founding members were Cecilia Roudebush, Mary Hartung, Monika Ragland, and Mary Bammann.

The Arts Council sponsored the first Gila Valley Cowboy Poetry Roundup in 1994 to celebrate the Southwest’s music and culture and was honored with the 1995 Governor’s Art Award for its contributions to the community.The Arts Council has brought world-class talent to the Gila Valley. Artists from faraway continents have graced the stages of Eastern Arizona College: Chinese acrobats, an Australian storyteller, the Kremlin Orchestra, International Children’s Choir, and Los Camperos de Nati Cano’s music and dance from Mexico. Some of the top U.S. artists have included the National Symphony; ballet companies from San Francisco and Aspen as well as our own Ballet Arizona; jazz greats like Eric Bibb; Lula Washington Dance Company, and well-known performers such as Roy Clark and the Kingston Trio.
   

Throughout these 24 years, the mission of the Gila Valley Arts Council has remained focused on exposing the youth of the Gila Valley to the fascinating world of the arts. Through our School Residency Program, artists visit local schools, and daytime performances at EAC allow many schools to participate.
   

Studies have shown that arts education can have major impacts on children’s performance in all aspects of learning. This translates to higher test scores in other subjects, as well as youth with a broader appreciation of the world around them. To provide this opportunity to our children, the Arts Council has brought arts education to more than 90,000 students over a recent 10-year period.

Your support helps make this possible. The students of the Gila Valley thank you. We thank you.