Annual Meeting & Member Appreciation Dinner – January 17, 2026

On January 17, more than 50 members gathered at the Charles City Arts Center for a special evening that combined our Annual Meeting with a celebration of the people who make our work possible. The night was filled with conversation, reflection, good food, and shared excitement for the year ahead.

The evening began at 5:00 p.m. with cocktails, appetizers, and social time, giving members a chance to reconnect and enjoy the Arts Center together. A generous assortment of appetizers was served as guests mingled and settled in for the program.

At 5:30 p.m., President Robert Mulcahy called the Annual Meeting to order. He opened with a reflection on the Arts Council’s mission—to encourage and advance the understanding and appreciation of the arts and to help create an environment in which the arts and artists may flourish—and shared highlights from 2025. His remarks touched on progress made toward greater regional visibility, increased collaboration with partner organizations, successful grant funding, and the Board’s renewed focus on long-term financial sustainability and community engagement through a revised strategic plan.

Treasurer Ashley Koebrick-Schmidt followed with a clear and thoughtful financial overview of 2025. While the year ended with a modest operating deficit, she emphasized that this was largely the result of intentional investments tied to increased activity, programming, and community engagement. Ashley also outlined priorities for 2026, including the development of a three-year financial sustainability plan focused on strengthening reserves, diversifying revenue, and supporting future growth.

Brief updates from our affiliates followed, along with a heartfelt thank-you to our members—whose support, participation, and belief in the Arts Center allow us to continue serving artists and the wider community.

Dinner was served at 6:00 p.m., catered by Two Sisters Catering, and it was nothing short of outstanding. Guests enjoyed potato & leek soup with fresh dinner rolls, followed by a choice of braised beef short ribs over creamy polenta or Thai vegetable curry over jasmine rice. Dessert—a beautifully prepared dish of baked pears with vanilla bean ice cream and salted caramel sauce—was the perfect ending to the meal.

We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who made the evening such a success:

• Our members, for their continued support and presence

• Our staff, especially Emily, whose organization and leadership brought the entire event together seamlessly

• Our dedicated volunteers, who ensured everything ran smoothly behind the scenes

• And Two Sisters Catering, for an exceptional dining experience

  
  

Evenings like this remind us that the Arts Center is more than a building—it’s a community. We are grateful for the chance to celebrate together, reflect on what we’ve accomplished, and look ahead with confidence and excitement to 2026.