DIDSBURY -- New Mountain View Arts Society (MVAS) president Merrilee Anthony is looking forward to an exciting year ahead for the organization.
Anthony was appointed president at the group's annual general meeting held Feb. 1 at the Excalibur building in Didsbury. Also selected to the MVAS executive were Tara Stewart as vice-president, Maia Foster as secretary and Deb Porter as treasurer. Directors at large are Jim Brown, Kevin Land, Abra Hartmann and Bev Zwart.
Anthony, who owns and operates Unique Stained Glass along with her husband Bill, has been involved with the arts society since it began in 2012.
"I'm one of the founding members," said Anthony. "We became a society in 2012. I've been involved ever since. I was vice-president for probably five years in the recent past and I was treasurer one year. Otherwise I've done a lot of chairing. I've chaired the art show; this'll be my eighth year. That is held in conjunction with the Didsbury Art, Travel and Trade Expo. That's an annual event."
Anthony said plans are well underway already for this year's art show, which is titled A Brush with Art. The trade expo is set for April 13 and 14 at the Didsbury Memorial Arena.
Anthony said she had resisted taking the lead with the arts society but figured it was time.
"I felt it might be a good time to step up," she said. "I've got the experience of being on the board this whole time. We've got a few new board members. There is a lot of enthusiasm and excitement as we move forward into the different activities. We support a lot of events in the community."
Anthony said they worked with the high school in bringing the Global Drums concert to town.
"That was just an outstanding event," she said. "We also supported OMA (Opening Minds Through Art) with the high school and the hospital here where they pair students with seniors."
MVAS also hosts the Days of Yore, the historical re-enactment festival, in August at Rosebud Park.
"We also have the arts festival in September," she said. "There is an event at our partners the library and museum. We utilize the train station for the artists at work, which I've also chaired the last two years. That's a really unique program. We limit it to 10 artists and all must have a participatory activity.
"That's held in the train station hall. That's a really good mix of different mediums from photographer to painters to leather workers."
