City Times Staff

Mayor Mike Wiza announced on Monday the creation of the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Arts and Culture.

The council is comprised of six members. Accepting appointments are Sara Brish from the Stevens Point Visitors and Convention Bureau (CVB); Nerissa Nelson, vice president of Create Portage County (formerly known as the Arts Alliance); Janis Borski, a UWSP retiree; Mark Polzin, who works in radio and technology; Paula O’Kray from Central Wisconsin Area Community Theater (cwACT); and one non-voting member, District 4 Ald. Heidi Oberstadt, who will act as Council Liaison.

“The group is comprised of people who have insight and interest into arts and culture,” Wiza said in a press release. “They will be advisory to the mayor’s office.”

In his news release, Wiza outlined the council’s purpose, which he said “acts in an advisory capacity and makes recommendations to the mayor’s office related to the development of arts and culture for the City of Stevens Point. The committee also works as a liaison between the Create Portage County and the Stevens Point Common Council, through the mayor’s office.”

The council will have the authority to create its own goals, objectives and a vision statement, Wiza said. It’s general functions include “creative place-making”, “support for public art”, “promoting space planning for arts and culture” and “promoting thriving entertainment events and experiences”.

Some of the events Wiza said the group is charged with promoting include: ArtsWalk, Film Festival, Entertainment Events, Riverfront Jazz Festival, Riverfront Rendezvous, Movies in the Park, City Band Concerts, Phantom Galleries and the Mass Guitar Incident — all of which the city currently pays the CVB to promote.

Wiza added in his news release the council would “involve public input” for community-based projects.

The group will also work with Create Portage County, according to Wiza, to “embed arts and culture in the city’s comprehensive plan with consideration for county arts & culture planning.”

It was not immediately clear when the group would first meet.