A Conversation with Our Community Partners

That’s what we think when we put our three communities together for a common purpose – sharing and supporting the arts in Interior Alaska.

Anne: "I followed good advice: Find partners to work with and help through the economic downturn, but not just any partners - good partners! I think of Kris and Joyce as a gift. Whenever you can work with people whose rallying cry is “we can do this!” you know your life will be filled with joy and a positive approach to problem solving. No Whining is our motto."

Kris: "It was Anne who brought us all together - looking for ways to do outreach with Joyce McCombs of the Delta Library and me representing Denali Arts & Humanities Alliance.” 

Anne: "Actually, it was Lynda Sather of Alyeska who provided the opportunity for FCA to serve Delta last year and prompted this rural partnership idea. This blossomed into the Alyeska Concert Series. Now, thanks to GVEA, we can do the same for Denali."

Anne: "Another piece of advice I heard last year was this: If you do outreach, make sure it’s for people who really want it.”

Kris and Joyce: "Want it? We’re starving for it!”

Denali and Delta have a lot in common. They are both about a two-hour drive from Fairbanks. Residents of both places use Fairbanks as a base for shopping, movies, eating at restaurants, buying cars, and even attending cultural events.

Neither community has a budget for the arts/humanities. But neither community lets that stop them from finding ways to make the arts/humanities happen locally.

In-kind donations and generous hospitality are common. There’s a reason every performer who has visited Denali has asked to return. There's a reason that artists visiting Delta recently were overcome with emotion at the local crowd's enthusiastic response to their performance.

With the help of FCA, more of those cultural events are scheduled in those rural communities this year! Both Denali and Delta will host Cantus in October 2009 and Les Yeux Noir in March 2010.

We think it’s just the start.

Joyce: “Together we can accomplish more. We all have the same goals: serving Interior Alaskan communities with quality cultural experiences. We all know what it takes to achieve this.”

We all agree that exposing rural Alaskans to the arts will bring more rural residents north to enjoy even more events in Fairbanks.

Denali Borough Mayor Dave Talerico likes to describe Denali as the “little sister down the road” from Fairbanks.

Denali and Delta are both ready to take their place in the family and do their part to contribute to supporting the arts/humanities in Interior Alaska.