Art Chowder July | August, Issue 22 | Page 64

SPOKANE VALLEY HAS A THRIVING ARTS COMMUNITY T GAIL BONGIOVANNI SPOKANE VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER SINCE 2004 Gail is the Owner/Instructor of Gail’s School of Dance in Spokane Valley since 1980. She joined the Spokane Valley Arts Council Board of Directors in 2004 and serves as volunteer co-coordinator. She is the President of the board of In- land Northwest Dance Association, and has been a member since 1991. She has also been a part of ValleyFest since 1990 when the event began, and currently serves as Secretary for the board of directors. 64 ART CHOWDER MAGAZINE he Spokane Valley Arts Council is a leader in providing the City of Spokane Valley with a vibrant arts presence. Spokane Valley is nationally recognized in Western Art and Architecture magazine in an article written by Melville Holmes featuring the Harken Art Collection, the Spokane Valley City Hall building and the monumental art around it provided by the Spokane Valley Arts Council. A vibrant arts community is an investment in the education, development and future culture of our youth. It can provide more ways for citizens to gather to celebrate traditions old and new. It takes commitment, cooperation with businesses and non- profit organizations, along with hard work, to help the arts flourish. The results of these endeavors will strengthen the community and benefit regional arts and cultural organizations, area artists, and local businesses. The Spokane Valley Arts Council is a regional community arts organization established in 2004 as a 501(c)3 non-profit, without city boundaries to better support and enrich the environment in which we live. A big part of SVAC goals is to create community identity and cohesiveness; we encourage our own distinctive cultural assets. Spokane Valley Arts Council will be hosting Arts Preview on Saturday, August 31, 2019 at Pavillion Park in Liberty Lake before the free 19th Annual Ludlow Kramer Memorial Concert with the Spokane Symphony Orchestra.