Background
A lot has happened in our 25 years. Here is a bit of our history:
History of Artists In Action
Prepared by Diane Trevett, treasurer
5/31/04
Artists in Action really began in the Fall of 1999, loosely as Valley Artists Network. Wayne & Twyla Knowles were the driving force at the time. We began meeting regularly. By the beginning of 2000, Wayne & Twyla were not as involved. When it looked like the group wasn’t getting off the ground, three other artists and I started to organize meetings. Those were Shirley Cross, Kris Lockard and Sue Thompson. The group continued to evolve and they dropped out. Those that were left were still a strong group. The group decided on another name, hence Artists In Action. I became President for the year 2000, then Leila Whitlock in 2001.
On September 4, 2001, AiA became a Nonprofit Corporation by way of adopting an existing nonprofit art corp. called North Santiam Arts League, out of Stayton. Robin Humelbaugh was on the board of this group. We met with the NSLA board to take over their 501 (c) 3 status. We applied for a name change in the group, a change in officers, and reinstated the Articles of Incorporation. NSAL changed to Artists in Action as a nonprofit corp.
As far as Salem Art Association goes, the only connection we had with them is that most of us who started the Valley Art League, were volunteers in SAA’s Artists’ Resources Committee, which also started the Studio Tour. The committee became inactive when staff coordinator Sara Lynn Hilde left SAA. In order to get Salem artists involved with each other and with the community, and to promote and support our creative endeavors, Wayne, Twyla, myself, Eric Wuest, Robin Humelbaugh, Leila, etc. wanted to have an autonomous art group, run by artists for artists.
Things continued to evolve very positively, and for the last 2 1/2 years as a non-profit we have been a very strong, active and organized group, complete with a Board of Directors and membership. We have been managing/presenting events such as Paint The Town, Art On The Green, and the Artists In Action downtown window display. We also have joined in other art events as a group, such as the Deepwood Estates Celebrates the Gardens, the Salem World Beat Festival and the Salem Art Fair & Festival.