Our History

The Arts came through the 2010 city budget with mixed results. The City Arts Department that was formed in 2007 was eliminated for 2010, but the commissioners budgeted $50,000 to the Junction City Arts Council.

To clarify a point that some people have expressed confusion on, the city has not contributed funds to the non-profit Arts Council for the past three years. Our history, in a snapshot looks like this:

• * In 1974, the Arts Council formed and was a privately funded orgainzation. It operated with a series of different part-time directors for several years until eventually that could not be sustained.
  * In 2005, the city made a $25,000 contribution to the non-profit organization. Those funds were used to hire the first full-time director in the organization's history.
  * In 2006, the city made a $35,000 contribution. * In 2007, the city, seeing the tremendous success of the arts in Junction City, made $0 contribution to the non-profit, but formed an Arts Department. The JCAC board of directors, took on the responsibility of City Advisory Board.
  * The non-profit financially supported the city in 2007, 2008, and 2009.

Now, the city does not have an Arts Department, but the Junction City Arts Council is still here and will continue providing the services that the community has come to appreciate. Honestly, it will likely not be at the same level.

A huge thank you goes out to all of the Art Supporters who came out in droves to support the mission of the arts. It is obvious that more people than I had imagined not only support the arts but understand the importance of the arts as a necessary quality of life component in our community.

Although the budget dollars to support the arts is down about $80,000 we will work to ensure that our mission is met.

Please come back regularly as I will keep you updated as we once again redefine our mission and how we will deliver our services to the community. We welcome your input, ideas and of course your memberships.

If you are not a member, please click here to learn more about membership.

If you would like to be an active participant in the art, we have many volunteer opportunities, please contact us here

Past Presidents & Directors

Incorporators
Jolanna Montgomery
Charles Neale
Frances Lee Howe

Directors
1976 - 1981 Diane Schwartz
1981 - 1984 Jean Hoppas 
1985 - 1990 Lydia Leek
1990 - 1990 Linda Copeland
1990 - 1991 Leslee Willey
1991 - 1996 Suzanne Coburn
1996 - 2001 Kay Deever
2005 -         Gail Parsons

Board Presidents

1978 - 1981 Jolanna Montgomery
1981 - 1983 Charles Neale
1983 - 1986 Charles Volland
1986 - 1990 Lois Moon
1990 - 1992 Charles Volland
1992 - 1995 Jane Roether
1995 - 1996 Charles Neale
1997 - 1998 Janette Vogelsang
1998 - 1999 John Triplett
1999 - 2003 Rod Barnes
2003 - 2004 Susan Moyer
2004 - 2007 Rod Barnes
2007 - 2008 Tony Ballard 
2008 - 2009  Judy Rosa
2009 - Kelle Gross

This list of presidents and directors is to the best of current knowledge, anyone who has information differing than what is noted here, please contact us.