Gatlinburg Arts Council revived

Gatlinburg’s arts council was renamed and revived recently through the efforts of a dedicated board of directors headed up by Margit Worsham. Formerly known as the Gatlinburg Arts Council and established in the 1970s, the newly restructured group has been renamed the Sevier County Arts Council to better express the council’s scope and vision, Worsham said. “We needed a united voice for the arts because there is just so much going on in our community,” Worsham explained. With financial support from the business community, the council held an arts competition this month for area school children. Over 400 entries were received from area schools kindergarten through high school. Homeschoolers were also invited to participate. Prizes ranged from $250 for Best Of Show to smaller cash awards and certificates of participation. A reception was held for the children on Mother’s Day and Kroger donated the food and cake, Worsham said. Worsham, who not only heads up the arts council but is also this year’s United Way campaign chair, said she and the other board members were excited about getting the arts community and businesses involved in the council. “We want the artists involved so that they can tell us what they need,” Worsham said. The council’s ten-member board is currently served by a volunteer executive director, Dana Cohen. Cohen’s husband, photographer Robert Batey, served as the judge for the school-wide arts competition. For more information on the Sevier County Arts Council, call 774-5955.