Crowell appointed to arts group board of directors

State Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, has been appointed to the board of directors of the Missouri Arts Council Cultural Trust Fund, the first legislator from Southeast Missouri to be appointed to the post in recent memory.

Crowell's office announced the appointment, made by Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons, R-Kirkwood, on Monday.

Crowell replaces Sen. Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, on the board.

The board of directors is made up of the 15 members of the Missouri Arts Council's board of directors plus the state treasurer, two members of the Missouri Senate and two members of the Missouri House of Representatives. The body is responsible for overseeing the funds in the state's cultural trust, which provides funding for Missouri Arts Council programming. In recent years the appropriations for the trust have caused a battle between arts advocates and the state government. But this year Gov. Matt Blunt recommended $7.8 million for the fund, up from $3.3 million the year before. The legislature approved the spending.

Crowell will join Cape Girar-deau neurosurgeon and photographer Dr. Joel Ray, a member of the arts council's board of directors. Ray was the first Southeast Missouri resident appointed to the arts council's board in more than 20 years.

The two will be the only board members from Southeast Missouri.

Crowell said he sought out the post due to his own interest in the arts as a cultural and economic development tool in Southeast Missouri and to join his friend Ray on the board. The senator said he and Ray will be "squeaky wheels" for Southeast Missouri, trying to increase the area's profile as a region where arts and culture are vibrant. That advocacy will be even more important in the future with the presence of the River Campus and a growing art scene, he said.

"Southeast Missouri has been neglected ... for so many years with the investment of resources and grants," Crowell said, adding he believes Southeast Missouri has had a lack of representation at the state level in arts funding decision. He said he'll also work with Ray to increase awareness about grant opportunity among local artists and organizations.

Crowell will be on the board until he retires or resigns the post. He's up for re-election in 2008. Democrat Ellen Dillon, a communication professor at Southeast Missouri State University, is Crowell's only challenger thus far.

If re-elected, Crowell would be term-limited out at in 2012.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182

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Missouri Arts Council Cultural Trust Fund

Board Members

Michael Vangel, chairman -- Columbia

Dr. Reynaldo Anderson -- St. Louis

Sharon Beshore -- Joplin

Cynthia Cartwright -- Kansas City

Dudley Grove -- St. Louis

Joan Israelite -- Kansas City

Marianne Kilroy -- Kansas City

Dr. Dixie Kohn -- St. Louis

Robert Noble -- Springfield

Meredith Perkins -- St. Louis

Gwyn Prentice -- Kansas City

Dr. Joel Ray -- Cape Girardeau

Karen Stratman -- Washington

Rosalie Wooten -- Springfield

One vacancy

Elected officials

Sarah Steelman -- state treasurer

Sen. Maida Coleman, D-St. Louis

Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau

Rep. Larry Wilson, R-Flemington

Representative Democrat -- vacant

Source: Missouri Arts Council