Small Town and Rural Arts Network launches (copy) (copy) (copy)
The Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA) announced the launch of the Small Town and Rural Arts Network (SARA), a new statewide initiative in partnership with Randolph College, designed to strengthen arts access and leadership in Virginia’s small towns and rural communities.
SARA grew out of VCA’s strategic planning efforts to expand access to the arts for all Virginians. After issuing a statewide survey to identify constituent needs, VCA received feedback from nearly 400 artists and arts organizations, one-third previously unaffiliated with the agency. Respondents consistently identified the need for increased capacity, stronger peer networks, and practical tools tailored to rural and small-community contexts. Addressing these needs became a critical strategy for reaching parts of the Commonwealth without current grantees and strengthening Virginia’s broader arts ecosystem.
“Access to the arts should not depend on geography,” said VCA Executive Director Colleen Dugan Messick. “Through SARA , we are investing in communities with strong creative potential and building the networks and knowledge necessary to support long-term cultural vitality across rural Virginia.”
The pilot, supported by a $35,000 VCA grant, will be led by Randolph College’s MFA in Arts Leadership program under the direction of Geoffrey Kershner. Rather than importing large-scale urban arts models, SARA focuses on adaptable approaches designed for communities with limited traditional infrastructure. Strategies include pop-up programming, partnerships with libraries and community centers, volunteer-driven governance, and micro earned-revenue models.
"The SARA Network is built on a simple belief: rural communities don't need more theory, they need practical strategies that work where they live,” said Geoffrey Kershner. I'm especially excited to be working alongside professionals from the Department of Public Transformation, whose expertise in community facilitation will help participants move from conversation to action."
The program includes three core components:
• In-Person Workshops;
• Regional Practice Hub: A digital resource center hosted on SmallTownBigArts.com will provide planning templates, workshop materials, and a peer-learning forum for arts practitioners statewide.
• Ongoing Support: Follow-up virtual workshops, monthly office hours, and 30-day check-ins will help participants implement and sustain their projects.
Virginia Tech faculty and students will assist in documenting outcomes and building a framework for future statewide expansion for FY27.
By focusing on practical, community-driven strategies, SARA aims to strengthen civic engagement, support local economies, and expand meaningful arts opportunities in communities historically underserved by traditional funding models.
