Special to the Item
The Picayune Item
PICAYUNE —
The Newcomers and Friendship Club held their October meeting at the Hide-A-Way Lake Lodge, where the program featured local speakers representing the arts from Picayune.
Pearl River County Arts League President Sheila Fletcher, Greater Picayune Arts Council President -elect Jodi Marze, Picayune Writers’ Group representative Bill Jackson and Picayune on Stage representative Gladys Hughes all informed the group about opportunities and functions of their organizations.
Local artist and arts advocate, Harriet Greulich was also on hand to display her jewelry designs.
Fletcher spoke about the PRC Arts League’s monthly art competition and its evolution since beginning in the 1970s. Presently, the League hosts a yearly art show which funds scholarships, and many educational opportunities for artists of all types to get involved and hone their craft in the art world. The PRC Arts League meets on the first Tuesday of each month, at 6 p.m., at April’s on Highway 11.
Jackson spoke about Picayune Writers’ Group, which meets each Tuesday at Bank Plus, on Goodyear Boulevard, and the motivation as well as educational opportunities its members receive. Each year the group hosts a Writer’s Symposium at the Crosby Memorial Library, publishes an Anthology of local writer’s works and holds a Haiku Contest.
Marze spoke about the Greater Picayune Arts Council (GPAC) and its mission to promote the arts in all regional educational systems; to advocate for the region’s cultural sector; encouraging participation in and equitable access to cultural programs while promoting integration of diverse cultural amenities in community development.
GPAC is an umbrella organization which consists of members of the various arts groups in the county and through the meetings held on the first Thursday of each month, at noon, at the Întermodal Train Depot, groups have a voice in its direction and opportunity to gain support in their endeavors.
All spoke of the huge talent pool of artists in the county and the economic impact the various shows and symposiums have on local businesses.
For more information on the PRC Arts League, find them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pearl-River-County-Arts-League/.
For more information on the Greater Picayune Arts Council, visit: www.gpacarts.com. For more information on the Picayune Writers’ Group, contact Don Wicks at 601-799-9360.
The next Newcomers and Friendship Club meeting will be held November 15th at the HAWL Lodge. For more information contact President Gloria Crassons at 601-799-3512.
