Mount Vernon Area Art Council is celebrating it’s 20th year anniversary this year.
MVAAC president Tiffany Carr said there are a lot of representations of Mount Vernon’s commitment to the arts in the Mount Vernon community.
“The local murals around town represent the MVAAC’s commitment to our mission of increasing the knowledge, understanding, cooperation, appreciation, and practice of the arts within the Mount Vernon-Lisbon area,” Carr said. “Many of them also exemplify our commitment to working and partnering with local small businesses and community organizations. We believe visibility for the arts is important and much like the evolving sculpture trail, the murals are another way that we can make art an ever-present part of our daily lives.”
The organization has also established scholarship support for a senior graduating who wants to take part in the arts, which benefits Mount Vernon and Lisbon Schools.
“It is always a source of joy for our organization that we can support a student who has found a connection within the arts as they continue their academic pursuits,” Carr said.
The organization has also established the Lincoln Highway Arts Festival, held most Septembers in the area, and supported efforts for both a poet laureate and artist in residence in more recent years. They are finishing up work on phase two of the art trail, and phase three of said trail is in discussion with the Mount Vernon Parks and Recreation committee and will be discussed again by the city council at the next meeting.
Carr said that during COVID, the organization started an artist’s relief grant program to help support local artists impacted by the pandemic.
“We also partnered with the South East Linn Community Center to offer after-school art programming,” Carr said.
Other projects they have tackled included: sponsoring community concerts featuring local musicians at both the First Street Community Center and at the Lisbon Library Heritage Hall; sponsored a Farm-to-Fork event in which area residents shared stories with the community while enjoying live music and food; created a map of all the Little Free Libraries in Mount Vernon; hosted Community Poetry Night and co-organized Writer’s After Dark.
“We have supported many creative pursuits of artists from all genres through our ongoing grant program, including school arts programs, local musicians, writing and performing projects, and public art initiatives,” Carr said. “MVAAC also continues to be involved in Chalk the Walk by contracting judges and funding the awards. Alongside the Artist-in-Residence program, we launched the monthly meeting of ‘Creatives Connect’ in partnership with the Cole Library to allow local artists to come together in the community and share and learn from one another. We are always looking for new and inspiring ways to both support and expand the opportunities within arts for our community.”
As for the future, Carr said that work on the sculpture trail is one of their biggest goals.
“The sculpture trail will be a long-lasting representation of our community’s support for the arts,” Carr said. “A collaboration between MVAAC and Parks and Rec., the sculpture trail offers residents an opportunity to enjoy art within nature and we are currently developing long-term plans for the continued funding and growth of this creative endeavor that is already making a positive imprint on our community. If you haven’t had a chance to enjoy the pieces, I would like to encourage everyone to take a stroll this summer and check out the ever-expanding public art pieces along the nature trail.”
Carr said that the commission continues to reflect on past and current practices to best fulfill our vision and support the arts in the community, and the Lincoln Highway Arts Festival is something they continue to add to.
“We like to take the time to reflect on how we can best support local artists during this event,” Carr said. “Last year we added food trucks and a jury while this year we already have some new children’s activities planned as well as the presence of giant puppetry and possibly some merch this coming September 21.”
The council is an entirely volunteer organization, and Carr said that is a challenge because it relies so much on members donated time and energy.
“The fact that we are celebrating our 20th anniversary speaks volumes to what volunteers are capable of in this community” Carr said. “I often say that ‘we need to make the town we want to live in.’ and I’d like to believe that MVAAC is a shining example of that idea in motion.”
To make that happen, the council has to call on donors, as well as writing grants to support all of our community outreach and arts initiatives.
“We very much owe a debt of gratitude to all of the individuals, families, organizations, and businesses that have supported us throughout the last two decades,” Carr said.
If people want to get involved with the MVAAC – Carr said they are always willing to work with anyone interested in supporting the organization.
“The first step should be to make sure you are on our mailing list (visit www.mvaac.org) and also follow us on our social media where we share opportunities and events,” Carr said.
“If you have a specialized skill that you believe could benefit our organization, we are happy to connect with you about a partnership,” Carr said. “And, when you see MVAAC opportunities and events you can help spread the word online and in the community.”
Donations can also be made at mvaac.org/make-a-donation, and the group is seeking applicants for new board members. Contact Carr at [email protected] if interested in serving on the board.

Gallery • 2 Photos

Nathan Countryman

Mount Vernon Area Arts Council artist in residence Sarah Fitzgerald in front of photos from videos of some of her pieces of artwork, now on display at the third floor of Cornell College during an artist speaking event Sunday, Jan. 21.