A group is forming to support the arts across McKean County.

The McKean County Arts Council is a project of the recent Leadership McKean Class, but the organization has already gained momentum, with several community members joining in the efforts.

“We hope to be an umbrella organization that would support the groups currently operating, such as the Bradford Little Theatre, as well as help support all the arts, visual, performing and public,” said Leadership McKean project member Carolyn Curcio.

The project group consisted of Curcio from Northwest Bank, Seth McClymonds from the First United Methodist Church, Holly McGarvey from McKean County and Matthew Pradichith from Beacon Light.

“We are very excited to help bring more awareness to the arts and feel the entire county would benefit,” said Curcio.

She explained the group has been meeting informally every couple of weeks since the idea formed, and the next meeting, set for 10 a.m. Saturday at the Landmark Cafe, “will be open to anyone interested in helping us reach these goals. We are now working toward officially forming the council, selecting board members and becoming a 501c3 nonprofit.”

Landmark Cafe owner Jennifer Forney “has been extremely gracious,” hosting the group’s meetings, but Curcio said the council would eventually like to open “our own community facility where artists could gather to collaborate and learn from one another. We’d like to host classes for the community as well as create a public gallery and display space.”

In the meantime, the council is organizing an exhibit that will open next month at the Landmark Cafe featuring work by Rick Minard, Greg Souchik and Ashley Wilson-Rew.

As the council’s mission statement explains, “The mission of the McKean County Arts Council is to provide a wide range of artistic and educational opportunities to residents and visitors of our area. We are dedicated to enriching our county by cultivating, promoting, and supporting the arts.”

In his recent Leadership McKean presentation, McClymonds expressed a colorful vision of what such a project could mean to the community: “giving our children a place to go; a place to create; a place to open up their mind and their doorways; a place where society, from young to old, come together and draw and just share their hearts and their passions. For those who are agitated, it opens up a doorway for them to calm their nerves by doodling or by painting or by getting their mind off what’s going on and focusing on what’s before them.”

For her part of the presentation, McGarvey talked about some of the possible future projects of the council, such as classes, wall murals, community events involving fine arts or performing arts. She suggested the group can reach out to places such as school, hospitals and clinics.

Supporting the artistic community could even offer financial benefits, according to McGarvey, who said it could bring in revenue and help the area retain or increase the number of talented people who opt to live in the county.

“So basically, an arts council can give those gifted people a better chance of success and allow them to pursue their dreams here in our own community,” she said.

Pradichith talked to the Leadership McKean group about the steps the McKean County Arts Council is already taking, which includes starting to develop bylaws, policies and small budget management. Bradford attorney Dan Lang is working pro bono to help the group apply for non-profit status.

“We do feel that this is going to benefit McKean County in an amazing way,” said Pradichith.

Curcio talked to The Era about how the idea came into being.

Her Leadership McKean group “had decided to focus on bettering the arts in McKean County and started to throw around ideas.”

Curcio recalled arts programs in Chicago, Ill., she learned about when she was working for sculptor Evan Lewis. The programs were “proactive in commissioning art, especially public works” — and she thought similar programs would benefit the local area.

She came across a post by Kim Nicholas on the “I Grew up in Bradford PA” Facebook page and felt further inspired.

Nicholas wrote about the need for “a thriving Artist Hub in Bradford, Pa.,” describing her vision as a “gallery co-op of local artists and the ability to meet in one place for OPEN MIC nights, art classes, dance classes, textile classes, music classes and jams and displayed art for sale.”

Seeing the opportunity to collaborate, “I contacted her and soon after a small group gathered to discuss what could be done,” said Curcio. “We worked with a group of like-minded community members and came up with the idea to form an Arts Council.”

Contributing community members who have stepped forward include Anne Holliday, Carol Minard, Debbie Souchik, Diane Caldwell, Greg Souchik, Kim Nicholas, Kristin Asinger, Laura Piccioli, Lauren Marshall, Mary Gunter, Rachel Minard, Rick Minard, Roger Peters, Samila Sosic and Sierra Tully.

Also, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford donated old art equipment.