Jasper Community Arts Rebranding Ahead of 50 th Anniversary

At Tuesday night’s meeting, the Jasper Community Arts Commission held their regular meeting with a special focus on rebranding for the organization. 

JCA Director Kyle Rupert said that his goal for the evening was to come to a decision on the proposed rebranding for the arts department. Branded By Woods, a local branding and advertising agency, provided several options and suggestions for some proposed changes. Some of the more significant changes in the proposal include a name change, which would remove the word “community” from the organization name in favor of “Jasper Arts.” This suggestion was made for several reasons, and Rupert said that it would broaden the appeal of what the department does for the region. He explained that the edited name would more accurately reflect the artists and audiences who come from areas outside of the Jasper community. 

Rupert said that the Woods design proposal involved simplifying and, in the process, modernizing the style of the department. It is meant to show a “shift in mission and focus” as well as a “perception of professionalism.” Some feedback has indicated that the word “community” can be indicative of an amateur rather than professional performance level, which can be problematic when negotiating with known artists. Rupert pointed out that the website has been jasperarts.org for quite a while, and that the move primarily formalizes the organization’s name usage that is already in place. The Commission approved the adoption of the style profile presented by Woods for the rebranding of Jasper Community of Arts. 

In upcoming performances and exhibits, the Jasper community will have some exciting opportunities. Acoustic guitarist Luca Stricagnoli will be appearing on the main stage on November 16. Approximately 500 high school students will also have the opportunity to view this amazing show. On December 7, Norm Lewis will grace the stage. Rupert said that he is “looking forward to having one of Broadway’s finest at the auditorium.” The First Thursday Opening Reception is this week on November 7 from 5-7 PM at the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center. In the gallery, a new exhibit by Maria Del Pilar Arrieta and Katie Knoeringer will open on November 7 and will run through January 26. 

Looking toward the coming year, the department is beginning to review performance opportunities for next season. Jasper Arts will be celebrating its 50 th anniversary next year, and plans are well underway to commemorate the occasion. The Commission also approved the addition of an outdoor performance piece to Chalk Walk 2025. Interdisciplinary performance group Squonk Opera (of America’s Got Talent Fame) will be on hand to perform their spectacle, "Brouhaha." 

In an educational outreach update, the feedback from this year’s Camp Create Fall Break was so positive that Camp Create Spring Break will also be offered. The Dia De Los Muertos collaboration with Latinos Unidos from Jasper High and Los Raiders from Southridge was described as very positive, and the event had a great turnout. The shrine is still up for viewing, and there are plans to enter it into a national competition. 

For more information on these and other updates, visit jasperarts.org.

- By Drew Hasselbring