Is Imperial up to another challenge?
Imperial and Chase County really turned out in recent weeks and months, responding to several fundraising efforts, one of which will bring in more than $135,000 to local nonprofits and other organizations via the Chase County Challenge. That’s on top of an estimated $100,000 in community donations for Campbell field upgrades and volunteerism ahead of the just-completed state baseball tournament here.
Wow! That’s a great response from this community for both efforts. So, are you ready for another challenge?
Last September, Imperial’s beloved former elementary music teacher, Dr. J. Gordon Christensen, attended a city council meeting with an offer to donate to the city 120 pieces of art he now owns. We visited this week about his desire to contribute to Saturday’s Chase County Challenge effort, earmarking his donation for the arts council who had a presence there.
Our conversation led to his artwork and the challenge he also made last fall for the city to come up with a suitable place, an art gallery, to house the art some day. While he plans to hold on to his art for awhile for his continued enjoyment, it’s not too soon to be getting serious about where that art will be displayed someday.
There is a committee appointed to work on that, and they are exploring options. The Chase County Area Arts Council, as it works to reestablish itself, is heavily involved. City Administrator Tyler Pribbeno said an addition to the library is among the gallery options, but something like that will take a fundraising effort. He said there are grants available for such improvements from groups including the Nebraska Arts Council.
Are we up to that again? I think we are.
This is a great opportunity the city should not let pass by. We have a lot of very talented artists in our area—wouldn’t it be great to have occasional displays of their work in a future gallery, surrounded by Dr. C’s art? It’s a big dream, but so was what happened at Campbell Park and with how the Chase County Challenge turned out.