By RONYA ANNA and JEREMY FRANKLIN Beloved local artist Jac Kep- hart was quoted as saying that âart is a wonderful gift.â The Art Center of Western Colorado (TAC) has embodied the spirit of these words. To us, art is essential and art is for everyone. We recognize that the arts and the artists who make them have an impact on the daily lives of our community. For 68 years, The Art Center has promoted the arts. Today, we are now embarking on a new, exciting era in our history. Art is vital in sustaining the richness of life, providing an outlet for meaningful expression and creating purpose in the world. We recognize the arts and artists have an impact on our day-to-day lives. The phones we carry, the cars we drive, and the buildings in which we live and work have all been influenced by the artists who contribute to their creation and implementation. From a local economic perspective, arts and cultural offerings also create better communities.