Meet Former Board Member - Emily Blanc
Article by Elizabeth Burchfield
It's been said that if you want to get something done, ask a busy person. A perfect illustration of this adage is Emily Blanc, the Clay Arts Guild's representative on the Walnut Creek Civic Arts Education Advisory Council. It is Emily who makes sure that the guild's concerns are heard alongside those of the other arts representatives on the council.
Emily's background makes her an invaluable representative of CAG. She is already a member of two boards (and president of one of them). She was invited to serve on the Civic Arts Education Advisory Council after working as a docent at the Bedford Gallery. Her experience acquainted her with the inner workings of the city and the individuals involved.
The advisory council brings together individual representatives from all artistic disciplines in the community to set policies and programming. Members volunteer for a term of six years. Among their tasks are to conduct surveys of the stakeholders in all the arts programs in Walnut Creek. The council uses the feedback from these surveys to assist with funding and program requests. A visiting member of the Walnut Creek Arts Commission attends the monthly meeting.
After the recommendations of the advisory council are consolidated, the visiting arts council member reports back to the council. The council in turn reports to the Walnut Creek City Council, which has ultimate budget responsibility.
Emily credits the success of the Clay Arts Guild to two things: a wonderful volunteer organization and Peter Coussoulis, the studio’s vigilant manager. A potter herself, Emily became involved with the guild after many years of working and living abroad. As busy as she is, she still finds time for clay. Although her first love is the wheel, she has been recently focusing on hand building.
Emily is one of those doers that any organization would benefit from having in their ranks. One of those “doers” who jumps right in whenever work needs to be done or when the going gets tough.
We are indeed fortunate to have Emily Blanc representing us on the Advisory Council.