A salute by EDA to the growth of arts and culture in historic Front Royal

FRONT ROYAL – While retreating into a defensive posture on matters of ethics and all, the local Economic Development Authority (EDA) greeted the 2018 spring on a positive note with its quarterly newsletter, EDA News.

While not normally credited with such, Front Royal and Warren County have gradually come into their own with arts and culture programs, and EDA highlights them in its current publication.

From virtually ignoring the offerings of the late and historic Wayside Theatre in neighboring Middletown, to providing members of its board of directors in its waning days, the Blue Ridge Arts Council (BRAC) is the apparent cultural front-runner in what EDA recognizes as “home to a vibrant arts and cultural environment which contributes much value to a community’s health and well-

The agency enumerates several attractions in town and county, some new, and some, such as the BRAC, that have been here for 25 years and more. The list indicates that recently the area has made significant progress in the cultural field. In so doing, it has uncovered an audience that has laid virtually dormant and certainly unrecognized in years past.

Since 2016, for example, and its success is recognized by EDA, opera has emerged in Front Royal and draws sold-out houses four times a year at the Osteria Italian restaurant. Opera? Front Royal? Who’d have thunk it!

On the other hand, and unrecognized, is the year-or-so old Virginia Beer Museum, an attraction for tourists and residents alike. Its refurbished rooms are jammed with memorabilia.

The Selah Theatre Project has recently moved to new quarters, an expansion of sorts. Who knows, a few years from now,  artistic director La Tasha Do’zia-Early, with her impressive background in theater, will move ahead with Selah where Wayside artistic director Warner Crocker left off.

Meanwhile, the Front Royal Oratorio Society, established almost 60 years ago and led by George Amos for the past 22 years, offers many performances in the local community, including two immensely popular events, a Christmas and a Spring concert, each year.

The Studio, A Place for Learning, is the brainchild of Kelly Walker, a local artist and businesswoman who decided to take her passion for painting to a higher level and offer painting classes to the community, the EDA newsletter says. Walker’s studio may well be considered as an early anchor for the new Main Street that is emerging as downtown properties change hands and news businesses are established.

Local festivals have most always brought hundreds of people to downtown Front Royal and deserve a mention. The Festival of Leaves and Christmas Parade have now been joined by the likes of the Virginia Wine and Craft Festival in May; the Brew ‘n’ Blues Festival in September; and Christkindlmarkt in December.

Samuels Public Library continues as the heart of literature and learning in the county.

The Kiln Doctor is a place where folks meet over pottery wheels and where local artisans display a gallery of remarkable ceramic pieces.

Also contributing with their on-line “LALO” (letartliveon) are artist Bryane Miller Lickson and husband Chips Lickson with virtual galleries featuring the work of local talents.

All of the above indicate a sharp growth in the fields of arts and culture hereabouts and  EDA deserves a bow for dedicating its entire Spring newsletter to the movement. Bravo!