Representatives from Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough and Orange County discussed the arts, economic development and the light rail project at a joint meeting in Hillsborough Thursday night.
At the beginning of the Orange County Assembly of Governments meeting, new Orange County Arts Commission Director Katie Murray was introduced to discuss her plans for the future of the County Arts Commission. She has had this position for 3 months and is still currently assessing what should be done for the arts in the county.
Murray said the three areas of need within the arts community of Orange County include promoting and marketing the arts, improving unification and communication among artists and coordinating county-wide initiatives. She said it is important for the county to represent minorities through art.
Orange County has been proactive in representing more diverse groups through art.
Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger said Chapel Hill will have a New Year’s celebration lantern festival in honor of Chinese citizens.
There was then an update on projects related to the county involving industry, retail and agriculture.
Bethany Chaney, a Carrboro Board of Aldermen member, said agricultural economic development proves to be successful for Orange County.
“Orange County is doing really well compared to some of the other counties that we actually consider to be more rural," Chaney said.
Chaney said this was due to the fact that Orange County residents were willing to pay for local food.
