The Southeast Missouri Council on the Arts forwarded to its members a newsletter the other day, typical as those mailings go but remarkable for something it revealed in understated fashion. Calendars outlining the dates of local cultural events in the coming months were included ... and were eye-popping for the number and variety of activities that are scheduled. There is a familiar and tiresome lament here that long-time residents can't deny hearing on occasion: "There's nothing to do in Cape Girardeau." In the case of the arts, the claim doesn't hold water.

Glance through the calendars and you will find entries of local events as varied as black repertory theater, a gun control debate, a Chinese Festival of Lights observance, a trombone recital, jazz dancing, a Shakespearian production, juried art competitions, readings from literary works in progress and light opera. Want to see a jazz harpist? One will appear here in February. Wonder about the early history of this community? A Bicentennial Lecture Series is under way, with programs on tap throughout the year. Care to hear a world-class orchestra perform without leaving the city limits? The St. Louis Symphony will have a concert here in April.

Obviously, the presence in this community of Southeast Missouri State University enriches Cape Girardeau's cultural opportunities. Its first-rate theater, music and art departments exhibit their talents, both in faculty and students, on a regular basis, as well as bringing in guest artists, speakers and entertainers that community members can avail themselves of. Beyond the academic realm, however, there is the arts council, which coordinates activities ranging from children's musical theater to exhibitions of the work of local artists to school programs aimed at interesting young people in the arts. Then, there are groups like the Community Concert Association; that organization brings high-quality song and dance programs to the city. For artists, authors and songwriters, there are groups that meet regularly in the area at which those talents can be discussed and shared.

None of this takes into account other varieties of artistic endeavor that occur in the region outside the purview of the arts council or university. The calendar section in the Thursday Your Time section of this newspaper, or in the monthly Tipoff magazine, lists musical and other performances that are open to the public. Churches, schools and private organizations sponsor activities such as choir performances, art shows and square dancing exhibitions. A broad spectrum of tastes can be satisfied through what is available within driving distance.

When it comes to the arts, Cape Girardeau is neither New York City nor a frontier outpost. As a community, it suffers the same fate as other like-sized cities, without a population base to sustain artistic undertakings at their highest level. What Cape Girardeau has, however, is a core group of patrons whose efforts keep the arts alive and available to persons of this region. Their work adds significantly to the quality of life for all who live and visit here, and it earns our appreciation.