Hastings Community Arts Council Inc

The purpose of the HCAC is to:

• Assist and support existing groups and individuals engaged in the arts  
• Increase arts educational opportunities 
• Provide information to arts organizations and the general public regarding local arts activities
• Serve as a liaison between the arts and businesses, government and educational institutions 
• Expand opportunities for the public to participate in, experience and enjoy the fine and performing arts.

Hastings has a long-standing tradition of the arts. In contrast to arts councils in other small, rural communities the purpose of re-establishing the Hastings Arts Council was not to increase traditional forms of arts programming, but to work with existing producing organizations to increase communication and develop non-traditional opportunities for education and marketing of the arts.

Despite a small budget, in the last 3 years the council has:   

• Developed and promoted a printed and online arts calendar   
• Coordinated research relative to the Arts & Economic Prosperity Study conducted by   Americans for the Arts   
• Planned and promoted a summer concert series in August/September in downtown Hastings.    
• Sponsored a National Geographic art exhibit on display at The Hastings Museum of Natural and Cultural History and an Artist in Residence program through the Hastings Public Schools
• Received a grant from the Mid-America Arts Alliance to paint the community mural located on East Side Blvd. 

Additional funding will help us to expand our outreach efforts.