From the Maplewood Division of Arts and Culture (DAC), updated on Saturday December 13 to include full news release:
Maplewood is known as a home for outstanding artists of every discipline — some widely well-known, others community-focused. Fortunately for those who live here, the work of many of those artists can be seen right here in town.
Our local cultural treasures have become a point of pride. Recognizing this, the Township’s leaders established a stand-alone Arts and Culture Division (DAC) in 2024 to ensure a robust use of the Township’s cultural spaces, foster a community of artists, and make sure cultural experiences are accessible to all.
Now, the DAC is asking community members: how do we use our public cultural spaces, and how can we improve? Along with the Maplewood Arts Council, the DAC is releasing a survey that asks residents to weigh in on their experiences in Township spaces, and their preferences for types of events. The survey is designed for local artists as well; the Township wants to know how to better support their work in the community.
“We’ve been wanting to conduct a survey like this for a long time,” said Marcy Thompson, co-founder and current chair of the Maplewood Arts Council (MAC). “Our plan to use the community’s responses to get the most out of Township-owned spaces, including the Woodland, the Burgdorff, 1978 Art Gallery, and others. We want to know what people are interested in.”
The Township wants to hear from all Maplewoodians, added Tricia Tunstall, MAC co-founder and former chair. “If you’re an artist, tell us how the township can better support your efforts! If you attend events, what would you like to see more of?”
Thompson and Tunstall hope that no matter which category you’re in, you’ll take ten minutes and fill out the survey, which can be accessed here and through QR codes posted around Maplewood.
In the words of Maplewood Arts and Culture Manager Andrea Teutli, “One of our top priorities as a township is to maintain a calendar of diverse cultural events that all Maplewoodians can enjoy.”
A vibrant cultural life is important not only for artists and their audiences, but also for the local business community, says Township Committee Member and former mayor Dean Dafis, who is the township’s liaison with the Arts Council. “When people come out to events in our cultural venues, they’re likely to shop in town and eat in town. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
Thompson adds, “The Township’s role is not to produce events outright; that’s not within our purview. What we can do—what we aim for—is to encourage the artists who live here to present their work in our public spaces, and to encourage Maplewoodians and the surrounding communities to come and enjoy our town’s greatest natural resource.”
For more information about the Division of Arts and Culture, visit the website.
