The Papillion Arts Foundation (PAF) has launched with a mission to support, promote, and celebrate the arts in order to sustain a vibrant arts community and strengthen the cultural fabric of Papillion and the surrounding area. The organization will act as a hub where local arts nonprofits can build relationships with each other and partner with the city for unique arts experiences and opportunities.

This new organization was created through the collaboration of existing arts nonprofits from a range of artistic disciplines. Representatives from the Papillion Area Community Singers, Papillion Area Concert Band, Papillion Area Council of Artists, and the Papillion La Vista Community Theatre met with officials from the City of Papillion and other area thought leaders in the nonprofit world to lay the groundwork for an organization with the power to uplift the entire arts community. These arts organizations each have a long history of working with the City of Papillion, and their experience was originally tapped to create a path for other arts organizations who may also be interested in partnering with the city.

“Amazing things have happened when the city is able to form partnerships with those who are passionate about the arts,” said Papillion Mayor, David Black, citing a history of collaborations that include the creation of the city’s SumTur Amphitheater as well as public art in the form of the Papillion 150 Butterfly Bench Project. “This new collaboration between arts related groups that resulted in the PAF will make more partnerships possible. We look forward to seeing how the arts continue to play an important role in civic engagement, quality of life, tourism and economic development.”

The group’s work resulted in the Papillion Arts Foundation, a partnership of local nonprofit arts organizations who have joined together for the purpose of growing opportunities for artistic and cultural enrichment in the Papillion area. The four arts nonprofits involved in the creation of PAF are now the founding members.

Georgie Scurfield, who serves on the board of the community theater and now serves as PAF President, sees unlimited potential for the group. “My hope is that the Papillion Arts Foundation will find opportunities, encourage creativity, inspire collaboration and help a rich diversity of artists and art organizations thrive – and in doing so will build a stronger community,” she said of her vision for the organization.

Member organizations pledge a percentage of their annual funds to the PAF and commit to attending regular meetings. These investments will help consolidate these organizations’ strengths in the promotion of community arts and culture while maintaining their autonomy to focus on their individual arts programming. PAF membership is open to any local arts nonprofit interested in promoting creative collaboration and growing a vibrant arts community through their commitment to the foundation.

The Papillion Arts Foundation looks forward to launching its mission with a series of listening sessions in September. These gatherings will be a chance for the PAF to hear directly from community members and representatives from other arts organizations on what they’d like to see from the foundation. PAF will also celebrate the group’s beginning with a special event this winter. As details for these events are being finalized, the public can follow updates at papillionarts.org. Those interested in learning more about PAF membership can reach out to contact@papillionarts.org to get started.