Visit McCall | Winter 2022-2023

Calling All Creatives

If you’ve been into any of McCall’s galleries, toured our public art scene, took part in one of the numerous paint and sips throughout the summer, or been to a McCall Arts and Humanities play, you know that art and creativity plays a special part in our community. To us, being creative isn’t just a way to pass the time when we start to get cabin fever— it’s a way to learn something new and expand horizons, a way to get to know yourself and bond with others in the community. Put simply, it’s a daily part of our lives whether we’re getting creative mountain gardening, listening to local music, or de-stressing with some watercolors after a long day.

It’s therefore no surprise that when the Idaho Commission on the Arts began investing resources to develop the first regional creative district in Idaho in 2019, the West Central Mountains was singled out for our high potential. Potential doesn’t always equal success, but fast-forward to 2022, and the West Central Mountains Creative District, or WCMCD for short, is steadily growing. Driven by the Action Team, which consists of members Renee Silvus, Delta James, Rachel Morton, Robin Fahle Olgren, and Idaho Commission on the Arts representatives Alison Espindola and Michael Faison, the district has already striven to bring together creatives from across the valley, promote resource and education sharing, and increase visibility of regional artists.

Though the action team works hard to bring the area new events and ideas, a creative district’s strength is truly found in its members. A large part of the Creative District’s efforts have recently been focused on their directory, where anyone can “Count Yourself Creative.” This GIS tool, built by local creative Kara Utter with Dynamic Visions GIS, allows individuals to build their own profiles including photos, descriptions, links, and contact information. Profiles are displayed on the Creative District website for other artists and community members to reach out to for sales, commissions, events, displays, and more.

On the directory, you can find over 40 artists from across the West Central Mountains, from writers, luthiers, and fine artists, to cooks, educators, and sex coaches, there’s no end to the creative avenues of the west central mountains. Many of the works reflect our area’s natural resources and beauty— there are rocky mountains, glimmering blues, foresty greens, and wildlife shots. But more than that, the growing directory shows a community of artists and creators who are looking for connections, who are searching for community they had previously lacked.

It’s no secret that people often wear a lot of “hats” in our community. Even if you are not a full-time artist or do not sell your work, you can still Count Yourself Creative on the directory. The WCMCD aims to “recognize the creatives in the garages, living rooms, kitchens, and gardens and be able to celebrate on a regional level so we can share resources, make a good impact on the economy, and celebrate what’s unique about our area” said Action Team Member and City of McCall Economic Planner, Delta James at the recent West Central Mountains Economic Development Council Summit in October. With an aim to connect local businesses, non-profits, and community leaders within our region, the summit was the perfect opportunity for the WCMCD to show how art can impact local economies and show off our regional artistic assets. Five local artists, including McCall Made co-founder Jenni Ritch and Fabrications owner Thea Belecz, were accepted to display in this community summit and more events with display opportunities are well on the way as the Creative District establishes itself.

According to the WCMCD, a creative district “is a way to identify, promote, and grow the creative people, products, and places of an area.” Our creative district is therefore defined by the community members and artists of the West Central Mountains- those of us who live and work in New Meadows, McCall, Donnelly, Cascade, and everywhere in between. While the creative district is just starting out, the WCMCD’s goal is to promote creativity in all forms and encourage positive educational and social interactions within our region.

What does this mean for local creatives? As the West Central Mountains Creative District continues to grow, artists can expect to see increased and expanded visibility, sales, networking, problem-solving, and shared resources, as well as more opportunities for new trainings, resources, and tools. What does this mean for the rest of us? We can live, work, and visit a place that puts emphasis on beauty, education, and community, one that has been mindfully molded by community members who put creativity first.

Currently, the WCMCD holds Creative Meetings every 4th Monday at 1:30pm via zoom to brainstorm about current projects, events, hopes, and pitches. They also plan quarterly creative networking meetings with an emphasis on community-building and ideation to allow local creatives to build their own goals and missions moving forward.

Be a part of the West Central Mountain’s latest creative endeavors, build the creative community you want to see. If you are interested in the WCMCD, head over to their website at wcmcreativedistrict.org, or send them an email at wcmcreativedistrict@gmail.com.