High Plains Arts Council readies for new season

Sidney’s High Plains Art Council is ready for its 2017-18 season.

The season begins with the Gulizia Brothers on Sept. 14.

“Their speciality is the classics, and they’ve written their own music. Kind of a blues sound,” Carrie Brown, HPAC executive director, said.

In addition to an evening performance, the Gulizia Brothers will lead an outreach program at North Elementary.

“They typically just talk to the students about music, how music can improve the quality of life,” Brown said. “They talk about careers in music, and just the enjoyment.”

Others performers listed in HPAC’s season will also be doing outreach, Brown said.

In October, Rat Pack Jazz will visit a local retirement home.

“With the financial and even physical limitations, it’s hard for them to get to an evening performance,” she said.

Daniel Christian Band in February will be working with Sidney’s Cool Kids Club.

“During a day we don’t have school they’re doing a matinee and workshop,” Brown said.

And Hank and My Honkytonk Heroes will work with Sidney High School students in October.

“They are going to work with the high school English arts class on how to write lyrics,” Brown said.

The season concludes with a visit from artist-in-residence Charles Ahovissi, who leads a week-long workshop on African culture at North Elementary.

“Every year you get neat stories coming out of that program,” Brown said.

To fund the performances, HPAC received a $4,843 grant from Nebraska Arts Council in May.

“They support the fine arts throughout Nebraska,” Brown said. “The competitive grants we write each year, and they release the funds and we use it to support the performances we bring into Sidney.”

The benefits of connecting the community with art are many, Brown said.

“Art can be that lifelong enjoyment that everybody can get involved with,” she said. “Either you’re a participant and perform and do the art of you can be the person who appreciates the art. I just appreciate it because I can’t do it.”

The only challenge with bringing artists to Sidney, Brown said, is scheduling.

“We are a drive away. Usually, the furthest west they come is Kearney,” she said. “To have them come the rest of the way, they like to do other small towns in the area.”

Budget is also a consideration.

“We have to be very careful with our budget,” Brown said. “We do work under grants to keep our costs to our community members as low as we possibly can.”

Brown enjoys being able to connect Sidney with the arts.

“This is a unique volunteer position. This council is in a position to connect with every member in the community,” she said. “The high plains can connect with birth through 90. It’s a broad outreach.”

To become a sponsor or buy tickets for the High Plains Art Council’s 2017-18 season, contact Carrie Brown, HPAC executive director, at (308) 250-1065.