Story was previously published by the Sylva Herald on April 23.
Story was co-written by Cami Couch.
Wishing to further promote art in the community, the Sylva town board voted in favor of dissolving the Public Art Committee on April 11.
The Public Art Committee was formed in 2017 with the goal of expanding Sylva’s art scene.
The Committee’s widely recognized projects the mural by Brevard artist Aaron Harris in downtown Sylva along the side of Ward Plumbing and Heating on Mill Street.
While most of the Sylva town board members were favor in dissolving the Public Art Committee, one commissioner, Greg McPherson, was not.
“I favor a standing committee and not an ad hoc committee, so it would perpetually doing something,” McPherson said.
Despite McPherson’s reservations against dissolving the Public Art Committee, he conceded that dissolving it could mean that the committee would be more eligible for funding.
“Under the umbrella of the Main Street Association, they can apply for different kinds of grants,” said McPherson.
According to McPherson, the Public Art Committee faced several hurdles when it came to finding funding.
“I tried multiple times to get it funded, but Sylva has such a low tax base that we want to keep the taxes low and we don’t want to increase taxes,” he said. “The appetite of the board was not to fund that committee.”
In addition to being able to access more grants, the dissolving of the committee will be able to provide more opportunities for locals interested in in art according to Kelly Brown, the director of Main Street Sylva Association.
“The reason is because this will allow them to get more grants, the membership will be different and the town board will not have to approve members now,” said Brown. “It allows more flexibility as well. It opens opportunity to do more.”
While McPherson opposes dissolving the Public Art Committee, he believes and hopes that one day the committee can be reestablished.
