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Volunteers propose 'Arts in Action' to display local work in new law enforcement center
Summary
A volunteer group pitched 'Arts in Action,' a donation-and-loan program to place local artwork and photography inside the new Pender County law enforcement center to humanize the facility and support wellness for officers and visitors; the presentation sought the board’s support to continue planning, not county funding or formal action.
Volunteers and local arts leaders on June 2 asked Pender County commissioners to allow a volunteer-driven program, “Arts in Action,” to place donated or loaned local artwork and photography in the walls of the county’s new law enforcement center when it opens in 2026.
Cynthia Tarrant, who said she serves as a volunteer with a local charitable foundation and on the county parks and recreation advisory board, described the initiative as entirely volunteer-led. She was joined at the podium by Eden Mills, introduced as a local artist and president of the Pender Arts Council, and by Sabina Beckman Murray representing the Greater So Arts Association.
Tarrant said volunteers met in March to develop a framework and an application process for local artists and photographers to donate or loan pieces for display. “Arts in Action is a volunteer driven effort to bring local artwork and photography into the walls of public spaces of the LEC,” she said, referring to the law enforcement center. She described the concept as intended both to uplift officers and staff and to make the facility more welcoming for community members: “Art is not just decoration. It's a tool for wellness, communication, and community building.”
Tarrant described proposed partnerships with local schools, arts organizations and community groups, and suggested an opening-night reception when the facility is ready so the public could meet participating artists. She said the program would not rely on county funding and asked only for the board’s “blessing” to continue planning and conversations with staff working on the facility.
Action requested: None. The presentation was informational; Tarrant said volunteer organizers simply sought the board’s support to continue planning. Commissioners thanked the presenters and asked no formal motions.
Ending: Tarrant offered to answer questions and left contact information; commissioners offered brief thanks and acknowledged the proposal as a community-led effort to add local artwork to a public facility.
