About the Berkeley Arts Council

The common element of successful arts communities is an independent umbrella organization that supports an organized, active, and broadly cooperative arts community. The Berkeley Arts Council was formed in 2009 to provide unified communication, promotion, support and advocacy for the arts community in Berkeley County, West Virginia.

Artists and community belong together. After the disruptions of the past two and half years, it was very satisfying to reconnect through our Arts Expo on October 8. Visitors meandered and browsed, artists brought their vision and shared it, musicians blended instruments and voices to please our ears, the prized historic Roundhouse venue added atmosphere and a sense of continuity. What more could we wish for?

More of the same — more arts, more music, more theater, more dance, more sharing with the community – and all more often.

That’s why a community needs an arts council: to bring arts and audiences together. Your Berkeley Arts Council hopes to do that more, and more often, and we need your support to move toward that goal.

A successful arts community provides a rich cultural life for all members of the community and supports a “creative economy” by attracting twenty-first century businesses and the educated work force that comes with them.

A successful arts community provides an environment that supports all kinds of businesses including artists and related businesses, attracts tourism and revenue, and provides income and jobs for artists and artisans.

The Berkeley Arts Council:

is an independent entity that will work for the benefit of the overall arts community without bias for any one organization;
builds communication and interaction among arts organizations and with community organizations by means of various activities such as an Arts Bulletin, a web site, and a Speakers’ Bureau;
contributes actively to the success of existing organizations by promoting activities, identifying potential grants or donations, recruiting volunteers, and developing a clearinghouse for resources including physical space;
supports increased frequency, quality and variety of arts-related events; and facilitate activities that extend arts throughout the community;
promotes and advertises Berkeley County arts events locally and within our region;
seeks volunteerism, funding and other resources to increase the presence of the arts in the Berkeley County school system;
seeks to qualify Berkeley County as a Certified Arts Community by the WV Commission on the Arts;
advocates for the arts to local and state government; and seek to open avenues for increased funding for the arts from public and private sources.

The Berkeley Art Works:

The Berkeley Art Works, a project of the Berkeley Arts Council, is the realization of the long-held dream of the arts community in Martinsburg and Berkeley County West Virginia: to have a community-based arts facility that supports local and regional artists, brings quality arts experiences for the members of the public, and provides a wide range of arts learning experiences for local residents, artists, and artisans.

Officers and Board

For more information about the Berkeley Arts Council, email berkeleyartswv@gmail.com or call 304-620-7277

Subscribe to the Berkeley Arts Bulletin.

Documents

Berkeley Arts Council Fact Sheet (PDF)

Berkeley Arts Council 501(c)(3) Exempt Status Letter (PDF)

Berkeley Arts Council Bylaws January 2023 (PDF)

Berkeley Arts Council Payment Request Form (PDF 2023)

WV Business Certificate (PDF)

Why do we need an Arts Council?

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