These are tough times, and if the pundits are to be believed, more will follow. They’re the kinds of times when any of us might need to fall back on values that rise above the usual plans for paying the bills and stretching our income around our financial obligations. That’s been a role of art since man first scratched his dreams on the cave walls of France and it’s the reason for this note.

The Art and Culture Commission of Napa Valley is new, having only been created this year. We’re a citizen commission with representation from the county and cities in the valley, charged with the task of promoting arts and culture throughout the valley. This is a public follow-up on our activities.

The Web page of the Arts Council of Napa Valley, attractive and overflowing with useful information, is a superb introduction to local cultural activities. We have a new county poet laureate, Gary Silva, a talented man who is energetically pushing poetry to the forefront. The Napa Valley Museum under its new director, Rick Deragon, has hosted a wonderful exhibition of local art. The Art and Culture Commission through its staff director, Michelle Williams, has been busily engaged with our school officials in exploring opportunities for augmenting educational programs for our elementary school students. We’re a party in the discussions on a public arts ordinance. We’re working on a plan for honoring students proficient in the arts. We’re actively and visibly supportive of arts programs offered by others, such as the Art Council’s outstanding Open Studios program showcasing local artists, and vineyard music festivals. We encourage and publicize attendance at local theaters, culinary classes, photography showings, painting exhibitions, chamber music programs and instrumental recitals. This panoply of pleasure is very wide, easily available, held in settings as beautiful as any in the world, and, importantly, at affordable fees.

This last point is often overlooked but it shouldn’t be. In addition to polishing our lives in a far-reaching way, art is a bargain and, as we tighten our budgets, that’s something to think seriously about. If hard times are here, let’s soften them through the arts. Perhaps it’s paradoxical that hardship might provide this unique window for enriching our children, ourselves, our valley visitors, and our community through the arts. Look them over carefully. Join the Arts Council. Get into in the winner column.

(Block is chairman of the Art and Cultural Commission of Napa Valley.)