New director, new directions for future of Jasper Arts

“I’m trying not to make it my slogan, but everything is on the table,” Kyle Rupert said about the future of the Jasper Community Arts Commission.

On the cusp of the creation of the Jasper Cultural Center and flush with community support through the capital fundraising campaign Jasper LEADs – Library, Enrichment, Arts, Downtown, Rupert’s quote holds relevance. The addition of a 25,000 square foot table dedicated to the arts near the heart of Jasper’s downtown brings plenty of room for new ideas.

On top of that, another table is being renovated on the Downtown Square right now. The Astra Theatre is expected to reopen in 2018, and the Arts Commission plans on stepping up to partner with Next Act in helping to utilize the renovated historic theater.

It’s an exciting time for Jasper as new businesses invest in the city and the riverfront and downtown area are revitalized.

“It feels like there is new growth and change happening in Jasper at a much faster pace than at any time in my past,” Rupert said. “It is really exciting to see all the new development downtown and around the Riverwalk.”

And Rupert sees the Jasper Community Arts Commission as a big part of that future.

As the new director, Rupert follows in the footsteps of Kit Miracle. Miracle led the department for 10 years before deciding it was time to pass the paint brush of leadership on to a new generation as the Jasper Community Arts Commission transitioned to a new era and identity in the community with the creation of the Cultural Center.

It is a big jump for the department. When the Cultural Center is completed, the arts will suddenly have an identity that separates it from the Vincennes University Jasper Campus. Created in 1977, the Jasper Civic Auditorium — the current arts center — was a huge undertaking by the newly founded arts commission. A unique commission as it is the only one created as a taxpayer-funded department by a municipality.

It was designed to add an attraction to bring new talent to the area.

Over the years though, the location has muddled the department’s unique identity with that of VUJC’s. “I’m sure it was a cost-saving move at the time, but even the bricks are similar to the campus buildings,” Rupert said.

While the official plans for the cultural center located at the corner of Third Avenue and Mill Street have not been revealed, the new location will separate it from the campus and place it in the midst of Jasper’s developing downtown. (The Jasper Library Board will be considering a contract for the design during Thursday’s regular meeting.)

“You know, we could put a banner up announcing things at the arts center now, but who is going to see it,” Rupert said. “In the future, if we put up a banner at the cultural center, it’s on one of the busiest streets in the county.”

Add the greater visibility to the connection to the library — which already has hundreds of patrons daily — in the same building and the arts could begin to reach a whole new audience.

“As far as the arts go, I think the facility itself will allow us to better accommodate some of the things we do today,” Rupert said. “It will also give us the opportunity to expand what we do and serve parts of the community that we haven’t in the past because of physical constraints.”

Created to attract talent then, the refreshed identity brought center-stage is designed to continue the tradition in a modern context. Rupert sees the department’s and city’s success stabilized on three legs. “You have to attract people, you have to retain people, and you have to enrich people,” he said. “They are interconnected.”

Rupert’s main goal is expanding arts programming to attract a new audience while maintaining and expanding the arts department’s traditional audience. While the department has years of data to back up decisions on bringing in performances that will traditionally put people in seats, he is ready to begin experimenting with new ideas.

For example, the influx of interest in Japanese culture and art, specifically anime, is an interesting venue that could attract a younger audience. Although outside the realm of traditional art exhibits in the past, there is an interest in the art style that is apparent as one walks around downtown after the annual Chalk Walk. Based on a popular Japanese style of cartoon art, the expressive style can be seen predominantly featured on the concrete canvas.

“We even received a couple of anime submissions for the annual art guild exhibit this year,” he explained.

The new center also brings a space that can be used by businesses or organizations to host expos and conferences.

Rupert likes the idea of hosting a TEDx conference. Based on the annual Technology Education and Design (TED) conferences that feature internationally recognized business, social and government leaders, a local TEDx is a smaller event featuring popular speakers on different topics of interest. Bloomington hosts one annually and Rupert thinks Jasper’s Cultural Center could be a great venue.

“If we host a TEDx; or Matrix Integration hosts a conference or IT event; or someone holds a wedding there; or the local Suds Club holds a craft brewery conference there, that’s extra revenue coming in,” he explained. “That revenue supports our ability to hold more clay throwing workshops, or instead of one Wynonna, we have three Wynonnas (Wynnona Judd will be in concert at the Jasper Arts Center in September).”

The Cultural Center is part of a collaborative effort to continue to support the community’s growth.

“Why can’t we get people to travel from Evansville to Jasper,” he said adding that the momentum and support are there for Jasper to become a regional arts and entertainment destination. “Let’s think outside the box and not nix any idea until it is proven to be impossible.”

To help facilitate new ideas, Rupert is already reaching out to the public. A brown bag lunch event hosted recently had participation from the art department’s regular contributors but also attracted some younger voices. Ideas passed around included new performance directions as well as increasing outreach to the all the county’s schools in efforts to bring in a new audience as well as new volunteers.

It’s a first step for what are sure to be some new additions in the department’s future.

“The trick it is to do it as painlessly as possible,” he added.