Mission of the NAEC According to the council’ s founding ordinances, the commission’ s goals include:
• Supporting awareness of the arts in its many forms;
• Creating long-range plans for residents and guests to experience art in public places;
• Enhancing community life through participation and financial support;
• Stimulating economic growth and incentives that encourage the arts.
Melanie Voland, the president of the NAEC for the past three years, supports children’ s mental health through Centerstone as her day job. In her free time, she is a passionate supporter of Nashville as a living, breathing art colony. Voland wants to broaden the common definition of what art is.“ For me, we need to not only support the fine arts you can purchase in a gallery, but also traditional artisan crafts and music that we want reverberating throughout the county.”
Musicians at the Tree Lighting ceremony. courtesy photo
Melanie Voland, NAEC president. photo by Cindy Steele
NAEC recently supported:
Six Public Murals: Since 2022, the NAEC approved and assisted with the creation of six public murals. It received grants from the Indiana Destination Development Corporation( IDDC), the Indiana Arts Commission( IAC), and the Robert J. Hoffman Public Art Fund through the Brown County Community Foundation( BCCF) to fund the mural projects, each depicting a different aspect of Brown County’ s natural surroundings and artistic history.
Living Art Colony: This fall, the commission organized a Living Art Colony showcasing Brown County artisans, musicians, and craftspeople from the era of 1890-1920. With funding from the IAC and volunteer help from the Brown County Historical Society and the Pioneer Women, costumed interpreters offered
Continued on 24
Jan./ Feb. 2025 • Our Brown County 23