This issue of NH Arts focuses on individual artists and creativity. According to the U.S. Census, New Hamp- shire is home to about 12,000 artists, which includes arts educators, graphic designers, and architects, as well as creative writers, visual artists, musicians, dancers, actors, and others who derive most of their income from art-making. As you will see on page 9, we have re-instituted an Individual Artist Advisory Committee to help us identify services and programs that best work for all types of artists living in New Hampshire. The committee is reviewing everything from the way we administer artist grants and rosters to the pros and cons of re-instituting an Artist Retreat. We will also be asking the committee to identify the issues, such as housing and health insurance, which most concern New Hampshire artists. Artist Services Coordinator Julie Mento will be taking the committee’s recommendations to the State Arts Councilors during this year for implementation in fiscal years 2004-2005. So if you are an artist and you have some ideas of your own that you would like us to consider, please feel free to contact Julie with your suggestions,
[email protected]. Only about 3,000 of New Hampshire’s 12,000 artists have found their way on to the Arts Council’s mailing or e-news lists. Even fewer apply for grants, rosters, or percent for art projects. Although we do not have a great deal of money to give out, we do have a great deal of information on artist resources and can provide ways for New Hampshire artists to connect with each other, strengthening the state’s arts community.