2026 SESSION
ENROLLED
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 18
Commending the Richlands Area Citizens for the Arts.
Agreed to by the Senate, January 15, 2026
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 19, 2026
WHEREAS, for 44 years, the Richlands Area Citizens for the Arts promoted arts education and enriched cultural life in Southwest Virginia by organizing a wide range of arts programs and local performances in the Town of Richlands and throughout Tazewell County; and
WHEREAS, originally known as Community Artist Residency Training (CART), the Richlands Area Citizens for the Arts was established in 1981 by a group of local residents led by Mary Lawson, who sought to attract artists and musicians to the region, bringing new opportunities for education and entertainment to their children, families, and neighbors; and
WHEREAS, while the organization subsequently adopted its current name, the Richlands Area Citizens for the Arts, to better reflect its expanded mission, it continued to be well-known by community members as CART; and
WHEREAS, in its early days, CART brought a musician to the area for a residency of several weeks and hosted public performances in local libraries, stores, and other venues to give every member of the community an opportunity to enjoy the performing arts; and
WHEREAS, in 1988, CART hired Ginger H. Branton as secretary and arts-in-education coordinator; she was ultimately promoted to executive director and garnered a reputation as an incomparable champion of the arts in Southwest Virginia whose visionary leadership helped CART achieve new heights; and