“It’s challenging, there are a lot of moving pieces,” said Lisa Cadigan, Adams County Arts Council’s (ACAC) Executive Officer, as she described her role as the organization’s Executive Officer.
Cadigan is directing the ACAC as it achieves its mission of cultivating an arts-rich community. “I want people to value the arts. You can get people to appreciate the arts by trying it, she said. “A goal is to offer a transformative experience, putting people outside their comfort zone. When you create something and share it, it grows your appreciation for what artists do. It’s part of what we do as human beings,” she said.
Cadigan said she had been part of ACAC since 2013 and had formerly served as Director of Arts Outreach and Community Resources, moving into her current position in May 2022.
One of Cadigan’s favorite ACAC programs is the regular “People Projects,” in which a group of participants work together to choose a common theme. Then each tells a personal story relating to the theme. “You get different perspectives. The goal is to bring empathy from people of different perspectives,” she said. The next People Project will be held in 2024.
Cadigan said the ACAC is funded by memberships and grants, including those from the Glatfelter and Hoffman Foundations. The ACAC recently received a $312,000 grant from the county’s ARRF funds “for essential programming in the community.”
The funds are used to provide a wide variety of performance and learning experiences around the county. “We want to have programs in every area of the county. We have afterschool enrichment programs in Conewago Valley and Upper Adams School districts, as well as at the Pre-K Counts program at the YWCA,” said Cadigan.
Another outreach program is the successful Arts Oasis stage, located on the parklet on Gettysburg’s Lincoln Square. “We’re going into our 3rd year,” said Cadigan. “Gettysburg Borough has designated us as the manager of the space, and we hold musical performances, art shows, and art demonstrations. The Arts Oasis provides a space for student groups who want to display their work,” she said.
Cadigan said the ACAC also offers over 50 summer camps, at which about half the children are attending on free scholarships.
The center also offers a “Music Together! Program” that provides basic music competency for 1-year to 5-year-olds. “Families play together to learn to connect. A focus is on rhythm, pitch, and social skills, including patience and listening,” said Cadigan.
And the programs also reach out to adults. Cadigan said that ACAC partners with the Adams County Office for Aging, sharing culinary, painting, and other activities at senior centers around the county. “Those 62 and over can apply for scholarships,” she said.
Cadigan’s background is in theater arts, and she has taught theater classes at HACC and Gettysburg College.
A dream of hers is to hold master classes at ACAC with a costume designer, where the final project is to work on a production team.
“Costumes are works of art themselves,” she said.
Studios are available for artists on the 3rd floor, and there are three galleries that host shows and First Friday receptions.
Coming up in June is the 19th annual juried art exhibit to be held at Gettysburg College’s Schmucker Gallery.
Featured image: Cadigan at this year’s annual ACAC meeting [Kylie Stone]
Charles (Chuck) Stangor is Gettysburg Connection's Owner, Publisher, and Editor in Chief. I would like to hear from you. Please contact me at cstangor@gettysburgconnection.org.
Thank you so much for this attention to the Adams County Arts Council! A few clarifications: Juried Art Exhibition at Schmucker Hall/Gettysburg College is scheduled for June 1-23, with the awards ceremony/reception followed by a ticketed celebration on Saturday, June 10. Our Outreach programs are currently being held at Conewago Valley and Upper Adams School Districts (not Carroll Valley, although we welcome the opportunity!) The Arts Oasis on Lincoln Square is entering its 3rd year. Anyone who receives a scholarship participates in programming at no cost. Currently, about 50% of the youth we serve, which includes summer campers and year-round… Read more »