With a new Board of Directors now in place, the Arts & Humanities Alliance of Jefferson County (AHA!) has planned two full years of events and activities to increase awareness of the work of artists in the county and offer the entire community an opportunity to experience the vitality of the art space developing here.

Beginning with an all-member holiday party in December to accompany the awarding of Teaching Arts Creatively grants to area teachers, AHA has scheduled a Wine Tasting & Jazz evening in July 2013 featuring local musicians; an “artomatic-Jefferson,” a non-juried, all-art media month-long public exhibit designed to create community, build audience and expand economic development by transforming available space into a playground for artistic expression in October 2013; and, a gala night on the town with Bank on the Arts in April 2014.

In addition, AHA will bring new art exhibits to the AHA Fire Hall Gallery space in the Charles Town Visitors Center with an exciting set of shows featuring Jefferson County artists working in various media. Already scheduled are Hali Taylor, Benita Keller, Fran Skiles, The Sanders Family and Isabelle Truchon.

Further, AHA opens its Community Grant proposal period in January with a new set of criteria designed to provide significant support for selected grant award winners.

With a vigorous plan for growing its membership, AHA is well-placed to continue building on its role promoting all artists and arts endeavors in the county. The synergy of grant awards, fundraising and cultural events, as well as capitalizing on local artistic talent, is designed to raise visibility for all the artistic and cultural endeavors in the county and demonstrate the value and impact of art on the quality of life in the county.