CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Throughout West Virginia, community leaders are engaging arts organizations, artists, government leaders and economic development organizations in activities that will help establish their towns and cities as creative cities.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 12-13, the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History (WVDACH) will host the 3rd annual “Arts in Our Communities,” a statewide conference at the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex in Charleston, featuring national and state experts who will focus on creative community development.

“Around the state, we have cities and towns that are seeing growth as creative communities thanks to grassroots programs and support from local government, economic development and tourism organizations,” said WVDACH Curator Randall Reid-Smith. “This conference will be a forum for speakers and attendees to share their ideas and learn from each other.”

Local government leaders and grassroots activists will talk about how their communities are incorporating more of the arts and what it has meant for their cities, residents and visitors.

The two-day event will feature presentations and workshops by key national arts leaders, along with panel discussions by artists and arts organizations from across West Virginia. The event will feature networking opportunities and presenters from every region of the state. Roundtable discussions and grant writing workshops will round out the program.

The “Arts in Our Communities” conference is free. Online registration and information about special hotel rates at the Holiday Inn Express Civic Center are available at http://www.wvculture.org/arts/artsindex.aspx.

For more information about the free arts conference, contact Jack O’Hearn, community arts coordinator for the WVDACH, at Jack.J.Ohearn@wv.gov or 304-558-0240.