Cultural Inclusion Workshop

Continuing programming by the West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA)  to support The Alliance: Arts and Cultural Organizations (Arts Alliance) will feature a roundtable discussion on Cultural Inclusion and its importance to the growth of our organizations and community. This program is open to the public.

The roundtable will be held 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 2, in the Redbud Room at the West Plains Civic Center, 110 St. Louis St., West Plains, MO 65775. The session will also be available via a Google Meets link. Those interested in joining virtually should email info@westplainsarts.org to register and obtain the link.

The panel is intended to be an informal discussion of cultural inclusion themes. “We know these themes are multi-dimensional, encompassing areas of geography, accessibility, and economics, to name just a few,” says WPCA President Kathleen Morrissey. Panelists with deep connections to the root culture and an appreciation for how creative use of stories, history and tradition can contribute to the vitality of our communities will include:

Beth Hykes, who brings her experience in rural social work and community mental health. She also is an active participant in the arts community as a musician and poet.

Crockett Oaks, Associate Vice-Chancellor for Business and Support Services at Missouri State University-West Plains, and small business owner in West Plains with generational ties to our community.

Terry Sanders, Executive Director of Ozark Action, Inc., who brings a passion for creative placemaking to the session.

Marideth Sisco, acclaimed singer-songwriter-storyteller, with a wealth of knowledge of the people and places of the Ozarks.

Grant funding for the roundtables is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) as part of their Challenge America: Arts Engagement in American Communities programming.