Letter to the editor: Kudos to nonprofits and art venues

Editor:

How great is it that Saratoga was chosen as one America’s Top 12 Small-Town Art Places?

The award was based on the number of resident artists, artist-related businesses and non-profits receiving funds for the arts and music.

Also on the top twelve list was Marfa, Texas, a similar town of 2000, with antelope and cattlemen. CBS’s 60 Minutes highlighted Marfa (www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50144819n), and they interviewed a bemused cattle rancher, their happy mayor who called it a “freedom loving town. People are allowed to — just-ah — live and let live,” and several artists moved there because of the welcoming attitude, the landscapes and the light.

Kudos to our older nonprofits and art venues — the Platte Valley Arts Council and Stacy Crimmins, the former WYOLD Aspen Gallery, (as well as our wonderful Encampment and Saratoga museums who promote art and music).

The list of art and music supporters is very long, BigFoot99 and this paper, the Lion’s Club, the Christian Center, wonderful teachers, and many, many, many businesses and music and art lovers. We are also blessed with newer non-profits receiving grants and supporting art in our Valley: the Platte Valley Community Center music committee, ‘Toga Productions and The Yard, Margaret and the Bear Trap and Riverside and WhatFest, and the artist residency program at Brush Creek Ranch. That’s quite a list for our isolated Valley’s small population. Thanks to all who create and support art and music. We look forward to a peaceful positive summer of art, music and good haying!

Cindy Bloomquist

Saratoga, WY