At the beginning of my tenure at The Center For Emerging Visual Artists (CFEVA),
I had the privilege of watching Mayor Michael Nutter reinstitute the Office Of Arts,
Culture And The Creative Economy for the City of Philadelphia. This simple act was
among the more inspirational moments in my memory and injected a kind of enthusiasm
into the air that only an intangible idea can. We all understood and agreed. Simply
stated, the arts matter.
I could not be more proud to lead CFEVA as we complete our first quarter century
of supporting the visual arts and look to a future continuing our rich programming
and support systems for artists and the communities in which they live and work.
Arts enthusiasts have long understood the importance of art in both our private
and public existence. The unique results of the creative process, which are often
intangible, touch the soul, awaken the complacent, disturb the norm and require
us to take notice when we, as a society, risk becoming stuck in a world of the routine
and mundane. The role of the visual artist is not to decorate, but to invigorate.
CFEVA exists to ensure artists always have a place of importance in our community.
I invite you to spend some time on our web site. You will find that our work touches
a wide spectrum of discrete communities. The vast number of programs, exhibitions
and educational experiences CFEVA provides will astound you, as it does me every
day. Learn more about the community service we provide for the underserved and unexposed
to the visual arts. Discover how to develop your own artistic dreams through one
of our programs, lecture series or studio tours. Attend one of our openings and
meet the artists who dedicate themselves to their craft. Become a part of the creative
economy and participate in a way that is meaningful to you.
We welcome your involvement and support. Join me as we begin another 25 years of
empowering visual artists and sustaining programs that ensure we experience the
power of the visual arts in every facet of our lives.
Yours truly,
Holly Lentz Kleeman, President
