<< Back 5/8/02 Bean wants to strengthen ties to schools, community By David Teague Long before Michael Steven Bean came to Haywood County in 2000, he was aware that an unusually deep pool of artistic talent existed there. Now, as new director of the Haywood County Arts Council, he is looking forward to working with those artists and to coordinating the activities of an agency that has developed a reputation for its high level of quality events. Bean, 50, began his new role Monday. Before coming to Haywood County, he served as communications director of the Hickory Museum of Art for six years and prior to that worked for several years in a variety of roles with the Foothills Performing Arts program at Caldwell Community College. Since moving to Haywood County, he has been working as a designer at Clyde Ray’s Florist in Waynesville while waiting for the right job in the arts to come along. Bean says his new job with the arts council is just what he was hoping for. “I wanted to relocate and I felt like it was a good time,” Bean said. “I wanted to look for an arts-related job, but it took a while to find the right job. This area is loaded with artists and art groups and crafts. There is a great arts awakening here, plus this area has such a rich history, through Native American crafts and the music of mountain people.” Bean’s first exposure to Haywood County artists came while he was with the Hickory Museum of Art, when he began to see the work of Haywood Community College crafts students on display regularly at the museum. He said he is looking forward not only to strengthening ties between the arts council and the community college, but to creating stronger links between the arts council and other successful arts programs in the county, such as the Haywood Arts Repertory Theater and the North Carolina International Folk Festival, Folkmoot USA. He is hopeful that his previous experience both in the business and performing aspects of the arts will allow him to lend expertise to these programs and others. He also will hopes to work closely with the school system. “What I really want to do is work with all of the arts programs and look at new ways of working with the schools,” Bean said. “That is what is so ideal about this job is getting to work with all the arts activities.” Bean realizes he has to hit the ground running, however. Unlike many communities, where the arts season winds down as summer approaches, Haywood County’s season is just beginning. His first big event, Razzle Dazzle Children’s Festival, takes place Saturday, May 11 and the events continue at full throttle through the fall. “My first goals right off the bat will be to look at our programs and make sure they are secure,” Bean said. After that he hopes to devote some time to increasing awareness in the community about the economic benefits of arts activities. “I see the arts as a real strong economic resource for this county,” Bean said. “Tourism is here and it’s always going to be here. I think it is important to take advantage of that and see the arts as a source of economic stimulus.”