Founded in 1995 to promote writing, the Literary Committee of the James river Arts Council (JRAC) sponsors our community School Program. The School Program serves the children of B.F. Yancey Elementary School and Scottsville Elementary School. Two times a month, teachers in each school choose an exceptional piece of writing from any grade (K-5), and the JRAC presents each young author with a certificate to honor his/her talent and achievement. Later, each award recipient is invited to participate in a ceremony at the Scottsville library, where the young authors read their pieces aloud to an appreciative audience made up of interested members of the community. Each reader is then presented with a new, age-appropriate book, courtesy of the library. The winning pieces are also prominently displayed in the library for several months.
Literary Committee members are: Lillian Schafft (chairperson), Liz Carter, Laurel Greene, Terri Long, Fanny Louden, Graham Paige, Alicia Woodward and Patricia Wyker.
The JRAC Photography Group is an informal meeting of local photographers that meet on the second Tuesday of each month at the Scottsville Library. The group likes to share their photography and photographic ideas with each other in the friendly, non-threatening way. Rather than a monthly photo competition, individuals bring photographs they have recently worked on and ask for constructive criticism or simply share their photos with each other. Several of the regular participants are professional photographers, but the meetings are open to anyone at any skill level.
The JRAC Photo Group also has an annual photography exhibition where the local community can enjoy the group's work in a gallery setting.
Riverbanks to Mountaintops: Writings of Rural Virginians was released in spring 2003 to community acclaim. The book consists of the original stories and creative pieces of more than 45 local residents who responded to a call the Literary Committee sent out in spring of 2002. Contributors, who range in ages from nine to mid-90s, come from a variety of professions and backgrounds, including carpenter, attorney, railroad worker, teacher, editor, housewife, student, handyman, hardware store worker, and others. The book is available for sale at the Scottsville Community Chamber of Commerce. Phone 434-286 6000 and the following businesses on Scottsville Bruces Drugstore, Sportsfancy, The Brick Restaurant, Evolve Hairdresser, Scottsville Saddlery, Willow Cafe, 1804 Furniture Store.
The JRAC Annual Photography Show is in the planning stages for it's fourth year. The idea for the annual show is to provide a showcase of photography created by the local community. Most of the participants are amateur photographers, many showing their work publicly for the first time.
Information about the JRAC Fine Art Show goes here.