Independent Arts News Reporting HV Arts Council Celebrates the Start of its 10th year of Creativity + Community
Reported Monday, August 5, 2024
Pictured Above: The Hopewell Valley Stampede. Photo Credit: Contributed.
Newsroom Post: PENNINGTON, NEW JERSEY
Pennington, NJ – The Hopewell Valley Arts Council is celebrating 10 years since its founding by an inspired group of dedicated volunteers. They envisioned a way to involve the community in the arts and support our many local artists, a mission that continues to this day.
Over these past ten years, the HV Arts Council has woven itself into the fabric of the community by being part of our area’s everyday community events and significant cultural celebrations, and creating many of their own memorable public art displays.
The Hopewell Valley Stampede, in 2014, was a Valley-wide public art display of 69 lifesize oxen decorated by artists and students, which raised the initial funds for this dynamic nonprofit. Although in the hands of private owners, many of these oxen can still be seen as you drive through the roads of Hopewell Valley.
In 2021, the HV Arts Council displayed 60 decorated spires with Out of the Ashes: Art Emerging from Fallen Trees – ArtSpire, commemorating the loss of our native ash trees; the Amazing Pumpkin Carve, now in its tenth year, attracts over 3,000 attendees during the course of a fall weekend; and, in 2023, they displayed sculptures – large and small – in Celebrating the Everyday, honoring of the life of renowned late local artist Seward Johnson.
Beyond these major projects, the HV Arts Council has embarked on “small but mighty” projects including co-hosting the online Artist Talks and family art workshops with the Pennington Public Library; curating a dedicated gallery space at the Global Neuroscience Institute building in Pennington, NJ and at the Ottoburger Lounge in Hopewell, NJ; and most recently, taking on a leadership role with Hopewell Tour Des Arts, a free self-guided tour of galleries and spaces of over 60 artists. The HV Arts Council has also proudly presented annual art scholarships to students at HV Central Regional High School since its inception.
These art initiatives, in their many forms, provide joy, inspiration and unifying experiences for this community, while garnering support for the organization and its mission. Despite the challenges of limited resources and ongoing impacts from the pandemic, the HV Arts Council perseveres and continues its commitment to “celebrate art in the everyday.”
“We have come so far in the past ten years,” said long-time executive director Carol Lipson, “and we are so grateful for the many individuals and businesses who have contributed to our success. We look forward to many more years of creativity and community!”
The HV Arts Council invites the entire community to come out to celebrate on Sunday August 25 at the beautiful outdoor area of Brick Farm Tavern from 3-7pm for an afternoon of art, music and summer fare. Early Bird tickets purchased by 8/1/23 $150; Regular ticket $175. Proceeds will go toward supporting the organization’s activities and mission.
For more information and to purchase tickets to join the celebration, visit www.hvartscouncil.org.
About the Hopewell Valley Arts Council
The Hopewell Valley Arts Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating art in the everyday. Founded on the belief that art and creativity are essential to a vibrant community, it supports artists, fosters diversity, and encourages creativity through education and public events. For more information, see our website www.hvartscouncil.org.
