A Message from the President

2005 was another remarkable year in this remarkable city. Columbus has been bursting with all kinds of creative activity-ranging from the Columbus Museum of Art's spectacular show of Renoir's Women, to the strong debut of the Columbus Fringe Festival, to new works in all media, to a number of thrilling collaborations between cultural organizations. Columbus is truly a cultural capital and GCAC is proud to play an active role in supporting the arts and culture in the city.

The Board and Staff at the Arts Council have been deeply saddened to lose Ray Hanley, our longtime leader. But we have also been heartened to realize in new ways everyday how much his work in the arts has benefited Columbus. Valuable opportunities and fellowships for individual artists, the Columbus Arts Festival, ColumbusArts.com, and the Columbus Arts Stabilization Project-none of these would have happened without Ray, and their impact on the cultural community and the city will continue long into the future. Particularly important to Ray, and particularly durable for our community, are GCAC's arts education programs. Artists-in-Schools, Children of the Future, and our recent Franklin County Neighborhood Arts program give young people and indeed everyone in central Ohio the chance to participate in the arts, and ensure that our citizens will value the arts for generations to come.

As our exceptionally dedicated staff members and Trustees continue our important work, we will never lose sight of our goal: to ensure that everyone in Columbus and central Ohio can experience the many wonderful ways the arts and culture change our lives for the better.

Paula Menhenett
Interim President