Hillsborough proclaims Arts Month; Arts & Culture Council outlines grants, public art and economic impact

Councilors proclaimed October as Hillsborough Arts Month and heard an annual update from the Hillsborough Arts and Culture Council (HACC).

Jackie Atkinson, chair of HACC, summarized activities from fiscal year 2023–24 and recent months: public art installations at multiple parks and marketplaces, the selection of a design for Shute Park art expected to be installed in 2025, and programming and galleries run by the Walters Cultural Arts Center. Atkinson said demand for classes has more than doubled since before the pandemic and annual attendance figures and economic impact in Washington County indicate the arts bring significant ancillary spending—attendees spend on average about $29.49 outside admission and the county’s arts sector generated roughly $29 million in economic activity.

HACC also highlighted grant-making: core operating support to eight Hillsborough-based organizations and four project grants, a performance-series grant program, and an endowment that the HACC said is approaching the half-million-dollar mark to provide a permanent funding stream for local arts awards. The chair noted the arts program’s focus areas: strengthening the local arts ecosystem, partnering on signature events, investing in public art and place-based branding, and supporting marketing and communications.

Councilors thanked HACC and discussed continued support for murals, marketing and community-based arts programming. The council also received invitations and materials that staff said are available in the meeting packet.