-Take more of the same old ingredients, sprinkle in a new film festival, and add a dash(ing) choir of talented male singers, and what do you get? According to Langley actor and theatre director Allan Thain, you've got the perfect mix for the 2009-10 season for Langley Arts Council.

After being elected to the board in mid-September, Thain was more recently chosen by fellow board members to lead the arts council for the next year. "We have an exciting year ahead of us," Thain said. "For the arts in Langley there are many opportunities. But there are also significant challenges."

He praised the previous board for strengthening an "already sturdy" foundation of arts and cultural appreciation in Langley with programs like: Art in the Park; the Creative Projects Program; the Children's and Youth Festival; Art in Found Spaces; and the very successful culture crawl.

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Allan Thain has taken over as president of the Langley Arts Council.

"It's going to be a real challenge to sustain all the great things we're already doing and grow them," Thain said. "But I think the LAC and the community are up for it." There are a few new endeavours being considered, including hosting a Langley performance of the Vancouver Men's Welsh Choir, and developing a Langley Film Festival.

An international film festival committee, including organizers from the Shot in the Dark film group and Langley International Festival, are meeting in the next few weeks to select a festival date for next summer. "The Langley Arts Council works to expand Langley's cultural landscape, encouraging continued development of arts activities and events," Thain said.

"Given the popularity of the independent film showings that currently exist in Langleys, all committee participants believe that this event will be popular among Langley residents. Shot in the Dark, who organizes and presents the independent films that are shown at the Langley Collosus, note that tickets to their shows are often sold out. There is clearly an appetite for this."

Thain alluded to "significant challenges" ahead for the arts community, and he said better coordination and cooperation between groups will prove key to moving forward. "Obviously to bring these new projects on stream and keep our existing programs up and running, we're going to have to reach out to the community," he said.

Thain is joined on the board by vice-president Donna Pyrch, a school teacher and arts afficianado. They're accompanied on the board by Taiwanese artist and art school owner Ko-Sheng Ko, artist and organizer Robin Bandenieks, Langley International Festival organizer Shar Dubas, professional artist and arts educator Susan Gorris, local artist Rosemary Wallace, former gallery manager and current Langley Centennial Museum curator John Robertson, art appreciator Don Shilton, and author Craig Spence.

The executive director of the Langley Arts Council is Alison Brotherton, and she welcomed the new board saying a lot of time and thought was given to what kinds of skill-set was needed on the board to help direct the agency into the future.

"As an ED, I can say that I am truly honoured to be working with people who have the drive, commitment, and experience that these people do. Each of them are aware of the task before them, and have stepped up to the plate to serve this community," Brotherton told the Langley Advance.
 
- For more about what Thain sees as the challenges for the arts council, go online to www.langleyadvance.com,and click on "Living"

Key challenges the Langley Arts Council must address:
- Develop sustainable funding
Arts and cultural organizations in B.C. have been hit hard by the global recession and severe provincial funding cuts. The Langley Arts Council needs to take a leadership role by advocating for restored, stable funding from the Province and by continuing its process of developing new sources of sustainable funding.
- Provide better coordination between groups
By sharing information and ideas arts groups will be able to collaborate and cooperate on initiatives and projects. The Langley Arts Council has to foster dialogue within the arts community by opening channels of communications and creating venues where arts and cultural groups can come together.
- Educate the community on how to access the arts
Modern audiences can choose from an ever increasing range of entertainment products that are available via television, the Internet and other modes of communication. Local performances, exhibits and activities have to be promoted as accessible and affordable alternatives offering a unique, community perspective.
- Help the community understand the value of the arts
We live in a fast-paced world, where people are often too busy to stop to appreciate the arts. Langley Arts Council, through programs like Art in Found Spaces and Art in the Parks, is looking for opportunities to raise the profile of community-based arts so that the public will gain a better appreciation of the diversity and quality of their local talent.
- Establish relationships with business, government and community service sectors
To flourish the arts must forge partnerships with key business, community and government organizations, who can provide funding, expertise and venues for the arts. Local businesses, governments and education institutions have to be better informed about the value of the arts to the community and of the benefits of partnering with the Langley Arts Council to enhance the opportunities for artists to create works and for the community to enjoy them.