LETTER FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

When we came together as an ad hoc committee two years ago [in 1997] to do a single project, a competition among Massachusetts artists for two bronze plaques on industries in the community to be placed in Falmouth's downtown revitalization district, we never dreamed that we -- or this project -- would grow so quickly. Our artist, Sarah Peters, has designed not two plaques but eleven and we are transforming ourselves into a nonprofit organization to continue the work of supporting public art in the community for many years to come.

With this first annual newsletter of the new organization, we launch a major fund drive for $100,000 to complete and install the eleven bronze plaques in our first project and to finance the ongoing development and activities of the Committee to Encourage Public Art. Grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council through the Falmouth Council for the Arts and donations from supportive members of our community, have enabled us to begin. Now we need help from individuals and organizations to complete the project on the industries of Falmouth and to continue our work.

How can you help? There are a number of ways outlined in this newsletter. First, become a member of our organization and tell your friends about it. Members receive the annual newsletter and invitations to all Committee events. Donations may also be used as a tax deduction. Most of all, you get the satisfaction of knowing you are helping to beautify the community through your commitment to art in public places.

Perhaps you as an individual or with a group of friends and family or as an organization would like to fund one of the bronze plaques in the Looking Back: Falmouth at Work project or underwrite the costs of preparing curriculum guides for the schools on a particular industry. The cost of each (approximately) 12" x 24" plaque is $4,500 and each curriculum guide is $2,000. A bronze plate at the site of each plaque will identify donors of the plaques and a special thanks to donors will be included in the curriculum guides. This effort would not be where it is today without the strong support given to the project by the Falmouth Council for the Arts, the Selectmen of the town of Falmouth, Peter Boyer and Heather Harper, the Historic Districts Commission, and the Trustees of the Falmouth Public Library. Our special thanks go to them.

Join us! We welcome your participation.