“We touch on all forms of art, as we believe art is in everything that we do. So that can be from calligraphy classes, to cupcake decorating, to the culinary arts, to the fine arts.”
The Douglas County Cultural Arts Council is a nonprofit that seeks to advocate for fine art programs in and around Douglas County. Emily Lightner, the executive director of the program, explains the importance of this organization in the area.
“We are one of very few nonprofit organizations that are arts councils and multidisciplinary arts councils left in the state. Most arts councils fall under a city or county government entity. So what we do as a nonprofit is we serve arts and cultural needs, not just in Douglas County, but throughout the state and the region.”
The Cultural Arts Council has a particular focus in fostering learning in the youth of Douglas County. They do this by way of educational visual programs that allow children to apply what they’ve seen in presentations back in the classroom.
“For example, we recently brought in a gentleman named Brian Engel. Have you ever taken a crystal glass and run your finger around the top of it and it makes that noise? So he has like a hundred of these and he plays Beethoven. It's mind-blowing, phenomenal. And at the same time while he's playing it, he's teaching the kids about friction and vibration and sound waves.
“And so when they go back to the classroom, we’re able to provide the teachers with resource guides that they can then implement into their lesson plans. So when they go to talk about it, they automatically can connect the dots to something they visually saw. And so when they're learning about it in class, they can tie and hold on to that information a lot longer.”
In addition, the Cultural Arts Center near downtown Douglasville hosts regular exhibits to showcase talent in and around Douglas County. While there’s of course a spotlight on local artists, the organization enjoys broadening the horizons of where they look for talent.
“This month we have a two-month exhibit called Sankofa's Reflection, and we partner with African Americans for the Arts group to celebrate Black History Month. And so that will be through January and February. So showcasing artists not just within Douglas County or the state but also the world. In September we have a national juried exhibit where we judge artists from around the world to come exhibit their work here in Douglas County.”
With the broad scope of the organization, it may not surprise you that Lightner has been involved in the art space for a long time.
“I grew up in the art world. I went to my first art show at three weeks old, won my first award for painting at five years old. So the art world runs very deep into my blood. Come college time though, I didn't want anything to do with the arts. So I went to school and I majored in business management and human resources because I thought that was the furthest thing away from the arts. And here I am back at my roots and utilizing my business degree and my experience in the arts all at the same time.”
When finding out about the organization, The Zachos Team was quick to support the great cause that the Cultural Arts Council commits itself to.
“The Zachos Team has been an amazing supporter. Paul and I were co-chairs for Leadership Douglas and we were also in the same Leadership Douglas Class, so Paul and I have gotten to know each other. Dee Dee and I sit on the Partners in Education board together.”
With the impact it makes on the community, The Zachos Team is proud to support the arts through this wonderful organization. These are just a few of the events and programs planned through the organization, and we hope its impact can continue to reach out to the members of our community and even further.
“The Zachos Team is very beneficial to the community as whole, always giving back, always coming with loving arms and an open mind to anything they do. So they are a huge part of the community and the ways they give back, not just to the arts, but to the community as a whole.”
Written by Paul Zachos