“The Art of the Horse” Workshop Series Launched by Gateway Regional Arts Center and the KEEP Foundation
Gateway Regional Arts Center announces a free-to-attend family workshop series funded through the Kentucky Equine Education Project - KEEP Foundation, consisting of arts & equine classes that will be held July-October 2024.
Thanks to a generous Seattle Slew grant from the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) Foundation, this series will provide a unique educational experience that beautifully intertwines the arts with equine studies. Regarding the upcoming collaboration, Executive Vice President of KEEP, Elisabeth Jensen, comments, “Horses are part of Kentucky’s soul and culture as well as our economy. We are excited about having the opportunity to share the benefits of our industry in communities all across the Commonwealth,” a sentiment echoed by GRAC’s mission of “All the Arts for All the People.”
Workshops will include a wide variety of content in both artistic mediums and equine topics. Classes will range from the history of the equine industry in the Commonwealth with ‘Horse Wire Sculpture’ to the impact of horses on our region in “as this series aims to educate and support the ongoing knowledge of the equine tradition in the Bluegrass.
Jordan Campbell, Executive Director of GRAC, comments, “We are so excited to share the magic of the thoroughbred industry through the arts. Horse culture is embedded in our local communities here in Kentucky, and we too often allow our citizens to forget the magnitude and majesty of this animal and industry. We are thrilled to partner with the KEEP Foundation to offer free workshops that will provide fun and engaging insights into equine culture here in the Bluegrass.”
All workshops are open to youth and adults with a strong emphasis on family participation. Membership is not required, as all classes are free and open to the public. No prior artistic experience is necessary; our goal is to foster an inclusive environment where everyone in our community feels welcomed and valued, irrespective of their artistic background. Workshop info here.
Gateway Regional Arts Center to Offer Free Admission to Military Personnel and Their Families this Summer
MT. STERLING, KY – On May 9, 2024, The Gateway Regional Arts Center announced it will join museums nationwide in the Blue Star Museums initiative, a program that provides free admission to currently serving U.S. military personnel and their families this summer. The 2024 program will begin on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 18, 2024, and end on Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 2024. Learn more and find the list of participating museums at arts.gov/BlueStarMuseums.
Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of Defense and participating museums across America.
“We are grateful to Gateway Regional Arts Center for participating in this summer’s Blue Star Museums program and we hope military families will take this opportunity to create meaningful, lifelong memories,” said Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. “Whether you are traveling this summer, getting to know a new duty location, or exploring what your community has to offer, Blue Star Museums is a wonderful opportunity to create connection and find inspiration.”
"Military families love Blue Star Museums, and we couldn’t run this program without the National Endowment for the Arts and the museums across the nation who show they care by participating,” said Blue Star Families CEO Kathy Roth-Douquet. “Access to museums enriches military families, creates wonderful family memories, and helps us feel connected to our communities so that we can thrive and do the hard job we have to do for the country. I am delighted for us to launch the 14th year of this very special program."
In addition to The Gateway Regional Arts Center, the Blue Star Museums program includes children’s museums, art, science, and history museums, zoos, gardens, lighthouses, and more, and hail from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The current list of participating museums will continue to grow over the summer as organizations are welcome to register to be a Blue Star Museum throughout the summer.
The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military—Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force, members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), DD Form 1173-1 ID card or the Next Generation Uniformed Services (Real) ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.
Follow #bluestarmuseums on Twitter @NEAarts and @BlueStarFamily.
About Gateway Regional Arts Center
The Gateway Regional Arts Center (GRAC) is the premier cultural center for the Central and Eastern regions of Kentucky. With a mission of providing excellent arts experiences for the communities along the I-64 Corridor between Lexington, Kentucky and Huntington, West Virginia, GRAC is on the forefront of cultural programming and continues to grow its reach in the Appalachian and Bluegrass regions of Kentucky. Nestled in-between the rolling hills and horse farms of Central Kentucky and the mountains and hollers of Eastern Kentucky, Mount Sterling offers a unique conduit - the “Gateway,” as it is known here - between the two distinct landscapes and cultures. GRAC sees itself as the cultural heartbeat of that conduit; it’s a place where we embrace our rich and vast identities and explore them through myriad art forms and anthropological methods. In addition to a robust offering of affordable classes and events open to the public, GRAC also houses the Small Town America Institute for Rural Arts & Culture, a think tank dedicated to supporting rich cultural programming in rural American towns and counties. Through academic research, as well as free resources and guides, the Institute assists smaller arts councils and interest groups bring vibrancy to their communities through the arts.
About the National Endowment for the Arts
Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the Arts Endowment supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. To learn more, visit arts.gov or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Blue Star Families
Blue Star Families (BSF) is the nation’s largest Chapter-based military and Veteran family support organization. Its research-driven approach fosters strong communities with a focus on human-centered design and innovative solutions. Since its founding in 2009, BSF has delivered more than $200 million in benefits and impacts more than 1.5 million people each year. For more information, click here.
Gateway Regional Arts Center to host NASA Astro Camp®
This Summer the Gateway Regional Arts Center will be holding NASA Astro Camp®. They have partnered with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to bring a space themed camp to Kentucky. “Each year, NASA’s ASTRO CAMP Community Partners Program (ACCP) provides collaboration opportunities for youth service organizations, museums, libraries, schools, and universities interested in presenting NASA’s ASTRO CAMP activities in their community with training and resources provided by NASA ACCP specialists.” (nasa.gov) In this summer camp, students will participate in group challenges, fun experiments, and space-themed learning activities. The camp will utilize every aspect of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). This will be the only NASA-certified youth summer program in the state of Kentucky! Those interested in attending can go to www.grackentucky.org/summer to register. Kindergarten through fifth grade session will be held 9:00am to 12:00pm. Sixth through twelfth grade session will be held 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Cost is $75 per student.
Gateway Regional Arts Center to Launch Gateway to Well-being Program
On March 1st, 2024, the Gateway Regional Arts Center will be launching its “Gateway to Well-being” Program, sponsored by grant dollars from CHI St. Joseph Health. On February 12th at 12:30pm, St. Joseph Mt. Sterling’s senior administration presented a check for $16,881 to The Gateway Regional Arts Center. “These two nonprofit organizations lead with compassion, and we are proud to support their ongoing efforts to make our community a healthier place,” said John Yanes, president, Saint Joseph Mount Sterling. “We look forward to seeing the DuBois Community Center and the Gateway Regional Arts Center further their commitment to the Montgomery County area.
Through a grant from CHI St. Joseph, and stemming from numerous studies that prove the fine arts are beneficial to mental and physical health, we will now be providing two free classes a week at our facility. Also, we will hold two free classes a month in different locations in the community. The classes at the Arts Center will be focused on physical movement, beginner level yoga and zumba classes. While the classes in satellite locations will be focused on creativity and socialization. This program is designed to get people out of the house, to socialize with others in their community, to stretch their creative muscles, and get them moving. It is open to all, at no cost.
The Smithsonian Comes to Mt. Sterling: Spark! Places of Innovation Exhibition
The Smithsonian comes to Mount Sterling in the SPARK! Places of Innovation exhibition!
Celebrate the creativity and resourcefulness of the people and ideas that emanate from Small Town America. Learn about the pioneers who carved a community out of the hills and hollers of the Gateway area, as well as the innovation of Ruth Tharpe Hunt and her world-famous cream candy business.
A special feature of the exhibit is our participation in the Youth Innovation in Rural America Initiative, which will showcase the ingenuity of our young people to be the leaders of tomorrow - and today.
The exhibit will showcase the unique spirit of Mount Sterling and Montgomery County, where creativity and ingenuity are as thick as the morning mist that rises from our rolling hills.
Join us at the Gateway Regional Arts Center to discover the stories of the people who helped shape our community, and experience the “spark” that made Mount Sterling the special place it is today. Exhibition runs January 20th - February 24th. Free admission.
Gateway Regional Arts Center Hosts MLK Day of Service Arts & Food Event to Curb Hunger
On this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, January 15, 2024, the Gateway Regional Arts Center commemorates the life of Dr. King and reflects on his dream for equality and civil rights for all people. We recognize that the iconic civil rights leader’s passionate and persistent fight for equality and against discrimination paved the way for the disability community to advance and persevere in its ongoing fight for equality, rights, and inclusion.
The Gateway Regional Arts Center, along with their community partners, are proud to announce a community service opportunity open to all residents of Montgomery County and surrounding counties through a federal grant with AmeriCorps and The Arc. “I Have a Dream: Feeding the Soul An Arts & Food Community Celebration'' will take place on January 15, 2024 and will last from 2pm - 6pm in Mt. Sterling. Partners for the event include DuBois Community Center, Sterling Food Coalition, The Arc, and AmeriCorps.
January and February are the slowest months in food donations for the Sterling Food Coalition. The MLK Day of Service event hopes to bring an influx of donations, while energizing the region with creative and artistic activities for youth and adults. Activities at the event include free art activities to learn about MLK and his dream, Food Basket Packing for those in need in our communities, free creative cooking classes taught by a regional chef from Kentucky, and a free bowl-making pottery workshop. Refreshments will be available and a community meal will be provided to all attendees, courtesy of numerous restaurant sponsors.
The event is free, but GRAC is asking attendees to bring non-perishable food items. Below is a list of the most needed non-perishable food items.
Types of non-perishable food items that are needed:
Canned foods (e.g. Black Beans, peas, corn, mixed vegetables)
Peanut Butters
Canned fish and poultry
Nuts and seeds
Rice, Grains
Granola, protein bars, oatmeal
Soups
Pasta, pasta sauce
Flour, Sugar
Spices, Cooking oils (Olive Oil, Canola Oil)
Processed foods in uncontaminated, sealed packaging
Those looking to volunteer their time for those in our communities can go here.
GRAC to sponsor 2nd Annual KY Youth Poet Laureate. Applications open Feb 1st.
Mt. Sterling, KY (November 25, 2023) - The Gateway Regional Arts Center is honored to be sponsoring the 2nd Annual Kentucky Youth Poet Laureate. This program celebrates young writers at the intersection of artistic excellence and civic engagement. The National Youth Poet Laureate program works with local youth literary arts organizations across the united states to identify and celebrate exceptional youth poets who use their voice to inspire change. Applications open February 1, 2024. Apply and learn more at youthlaureate.org
Gateway Regional Arts Center Receives Grant for Downtown Mt. Sterling Revitalization
Mount Sterling, KY (July 6, 2023) – The City of Mount Sterling and the Gateway Regional Arts Center are excited to announce that they have been selected as one of eight rural American towns to receive the Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) grant from The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with the Housing Assistance Council.
This CIRD grant aims to revitalize rural communities with guidance from a range of design, planning, and creative placemaking professionals. Local leaders, residents, non-profits, and community organizations will come together in a series of workshops to explore design ideas to revamp the City of Mount Sterling.
With this grant the Gateway Regional Arts Center, with support from the local community and government, is looking to transform part of Mount Sterling's historical downtown area with community gathering areas, recreational activities, and public art installations. Thanks to CIRD’s assistance, the goal of this project is to create a vibrant and welcoming space for all people of different ages and backgrounds to experience the arts.
“We are thrilled to be bringing creative design experts to Mt. Sterling to assist our community in revitalization efforts,” said Jordan Campbell, Executive Director of the Gateway Regional Arts Center. “Our downtown has come alive with color in the past few years, and the utilization of the Hinkston Creek area for creative communal spaces will further the development and overall quality of life for our residents and visitors.”
This historic national grant will focus on revitalizing the area along the creek and Adena Trail in downtown Mount Sterling. Currently, this area on the edge of town leaves a barren void adjacent to the otherwise vibrant South Maysville shops and restaurants. With this grant, the area will be transformed into a place of harmony and community celebration.
CIRD has provided design assistance to small rural communities since 1991. This year is the fifth year the National Endowment for the Arts has partnered with the Housing Assistance Council. The NEA has engaged and helped revitalize more than 120 rural communities across the country.
The City of Mount Sterling and the Gateway Regional Arts Center are grateful for the support of the NEA and are excited to get started on the development of the new cultural district.
Smithsonian Institution Honors Work of Montgomery County Youth at GRAC Celebration
MT. STERLING, KY: The Smithsonian Institution, including Cooper Hewitt Design Museum in New York and the Museum on Main Street in Washington, DC, were both present on May 2 at the Gateway Regional Arts Center to celebrate the work of students at Montgomery County High School. The Youth Innovation in Rural America Initiative (YIRA) was designed to showcase the potential of youth in rural communities to combat local challenges through innovative design.
Through a grant awarded to the Gateway Regional Arts Center, Mount Sterling & Montgomery County was one of two communities in the nation to be selected for the YIRA Initiative. Several Montgomery County High School teachers participated in the program, including Brittany Center (art), John Vice (engineering), Joshua Spencer (art), Abby Adams (English), and Andrew Sorrell (agriculture). During the spring semester, these educators walked their classes through the design process, allowing students to identify pressing issues within the community and investigate tangible solutions to those problems.
“These students rose to the challenge, and many of their projects will actually be more than prototypes - they are going to become reality,” said Jordan Campbell, Executive Director at the Gateway Regional Arts Center, and the project manager for YIRA. “It is wonderful to see our region’s future leaders making the change they want to see happen now. Hearing the youth perspective is vital to a thriving community.”
At the May 2 celebration at the GRAC, many city, county, and regional leaders were present to view the students’ projects and prototypes. One group that designed a collaborative program to combat animal abuse and neglect were invited by County Judge-Executive Chris Haddix to present their idea to the Fiscal Court. Another group presented a small-scale version of a new gazebo with solar panels and charging stations. Envisioned as a meeting place for students during the school day, they hope this prototype will become a reality soon in the MCHS Courtyard. The art classes collaborated on a new art gallery in the lobby of MCHS, focusing their first show on the topic of mental health. “Almost everyone in our classes mentioned something related to youth mental health when we asked about pressing issues,” said Joshua Spencer, MCHS Art teacher. “That helped us decide what our first gallery topic would be when we bring this to reality next school year.”
Mayor Al Botts, who also gave an encouraging speech to students, teachers, and community leaders present, gave the youth inspiration for the future. “We look forward to the great, innovative ideas you have for our community,” he shared. “Mt. Sterling is as capable of innovation as any big city. This is a great place, and you can achieve greatness here just as you can anywhere else.”
Each of the more than 100 participating students left with a voucher for the Academy at GRAC, allowing them to take any class in topics ranging from visual art, music, history, dance, theatre, writing, cooking, and more. “We are all here for you,” said Jordan Campbell. “If you leave with nothing else today, please know that you matter. Look at all these leaders who are here to support you today. Please let us know if and when you need help to succeed.”
The festivities also included a ribbon cutting for the grant-funded Smithsonian Media Makerspace at GRAC, a studio equipped with film, recording, podcasting, and photography equipment. The studio is open and free to use for anyone in the region.
“From my visits this year, I can tell that Mt. Sterling is a very special place,” remarked Kim Robledo-Diga, a representative for the Smithsonian Institution. “The future looks very bright here with these youth at the helm.”
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Kentucky Statewide Student Art Show 2023, Winners
With 781 submitted student works from 35 Kentucky counties, we are proud to announce the the Bluegrass, Brushstrokes and Beyond Statewide Student Art Show is the largest gallery exhibition in Gateway Regional Arts Center history! Thanks to the hundreds of students, parents, and art teachers from across the state who have shown such deep dedication to the arts in this massive gallery!
We congratulate the winners of this year's statewide student art show. Kentucky has some phenomenally talented youth artists! Please browse through the list of top winners in this year's exhibition.
The top three overall finalists win cash prizes: $500 (1st), $250 (2nd), and $100 (3rd). Each grade band winner (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) receives a $30 gift certificate to a class of their choice in the Eastern Kentucky Academy at GRAC. ALL FINALISTS listed here will go on to the 2023 Kentucky State Fair in Louisville, where their piece will be displayed for the entire state to celebrate!
Congrats to all youth artists who participated - we look forward to seeing more of your work next year!
Gateway Regional Arts Center announces creation of nationwide institute for rural arts & culture issues
MOUNT STERLING, KY: The Gateway Regional Arts Center (GRAC), a cultural institution in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, announced today the launch of the Small Town America Institute for Rural Arts & Culture. This emerging nationwide institute is dedicated to deepening the connections between arts & cultural centers in remote and rural areas in the U.S. The Institute will produce academic papers, practical how-to guides, and affordable project consultations and workshops for small-to-medium-sized cultural institutions in rural areas, as well as for small communities that wish to initiate cultural programming in their area.
"We are excited to engage in critical field-building for rural arts agencies and groups doing important work across the country," said Jordan Campbell, Executive Director of Gateway Regional Arts Center. "Small towns produce excellent art and cultural activity, even those that are entirely under-resourced. Too often, these Herculean endeavors go unnoticed due to a lack of connectivity and documentation. We hope to scale resources to make sure that rural arts organizations have a network of collaborators and partners who might be facing similar challenges."
The Small Town America Institute for Rural Arts & Culture was launched after recognizing the lack of resources, such as expert advice, peer-to-peer support, and access to modern technology and distribution channels, for small cultural institutions in remote areas.
The Institute will be guided by an expert Steering Committee of rural arts leaders, nonprofit executives, activists, and renowned artists and creatives. The following individuals were recently appointed to the Institute Steering Committee:
Silas House, Best-selling Author & Professor
Ceirra Evans, Visual Artist
Jonathan Adams, Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts
Mital Lyons-Warren, Americans for the Arts
Crystal Good, Black By God: The West Virginian
Benny Becker, Appalshop
Cay R. Lane, Gateway Regional Arts Center
Gerry Seavo James, Together Outdoors Coalition
Sterling Franklin, Bluegrass Center for Autism
Tammy Clemons, Independent Scholar & Media Artist
Amelia Martens, Kentucky Rural-Urban Exchange
Renee Anderson, Appalachian Artisan Center
Julia Finch, Kentucky Sierra Club
McKenna Revel, Writer & Literary Arts Advocate
Alice Hilton, Sharpsburg Design Studio
With the creation of the Small Town America Institute for Rural Arts & Culture, rural cultural institutions will have access to a vast library of academic papers on best practices in the field. Furthermore, small communities can receive practical how-to guides, templates, and training materials that are tailored to the unique challenges of implementing the arts in rural areas and help them develop sustainable plans and projects, supporting and expanding the scope of their cultural offerings.
The Small Town America Institute for Rural Arts & Culture will also provide affordable project consultations and workshops for rural artists and cultural entrepreneurs, enabling participants to learn new skills and gain practical knowledge. These consultations will provide one-on-one support and guidance, helping rural arts leaders enhance their leadership capabilities and implement effective marketing strategies for their facilities and programs. People from all over the nation, no matter their geographic location, will have access to information and resources that can sustain their community’s interest and passion for arts and culture.
For more information about the Small Town America Institute for Rural Arts & Culture, please visit grackentucky.org/institute.
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Shakespeare in the Park to present production of Hamlet in downtown Mt. Sterling
MT. STERLING, KY: The Gateway Regional Arts Center (GRAC) is partnering with the City of Mt. Sterling and Kentucky Shakespeare to present a production of William Shakespeare's iconic play, Hamlet, in downtown Mt. Sterling on April 1st at 2:00pm. The professional cast of actors from Kentucky Shakespeare in Louisville will kick off their 2023 spring tour in downtown Mt. Sterling at the Market Pavilion at the Adena Trail, next to the old Train Depot at the end of South Maysville.
This exciting partnership will bring high-quality theater to the community and provide a unique cultural experience for all. "I am excited to bring Shakespeare to Mount Sterling," said Mayor Al Botts, who has been a champion for live theatre in the community. "We are grateful to Mayor Botts' leadership on helping to make this possible," said GRAC Executive Director Jordan Campbell.
The event is free and open to the public. Everyone who plans to attend is welcome to bring their own folding chairs, snacks, and drinks. In the event of inclement weather, the performance will be held inside at the Gateway Regional Arts Center.
The Inaugural production in the Mt. Sterling Shakespeare in the Park Series is funded through sponsorship from CHI-St. Joseph Mt. Sterling. Additional events in the Mt. Sterling Shakespeare in the Park Series will be released in the coming weeks.
To learn more about the Gateway Regional Arts Center, visit grackentucky.org. For more information about Kentucky Shakespeare, visit kyshakespeare.com.
Gateway Regional Arts Center Selected to Host First-Ever Kentucky Youth Poet Laureate Program
Applications are open for the first-ever Kentucky Youth Poet Laureate until February 28, 2023.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MT. STERLING, KY - The Gateway Regional Arts Center has been announced as the official partner for the statewide Kentucky Youth Poet Laureate Program. Applications for the first-ever Kentucky Youth Poet Laureate are due by February 28, 2023.
The NYPL celebrates our nation’s top youth poets who are committed to artistic excellence, civic engagement, and social impact. Teen writers (ages 13-19) submit a portfolio of their original poetry and a CV that showcases their artistic excellence and community impact. Local and State Youth Poets Laureate participate in dozens of national convenings, workshops and performances each year.
Currently, the National Youth Poet Laureate Program serves programs in more than 70 cities, states, and counties, and has been featured in every major news outlet in the country including CNN, PBS, NPR, BBC, NY Times, LA Times, Washington Post, and The Guardian. Youth Poets Laureate have graced the stages of City Halls, the Library of Congress, the White House & the U.S. Capital.
To submit an application, go to www.grackentucky.org/ky-youth-poet-laureate or call 859-498-6264 for more information.
The mission of the Montgomery County Council for the Arts, doing business as the Gateway Regional Arts Center, is to promote, enhance, and contribute to the educational, artistic, and cultural lives of those living in Central and Eastern Kentucky.
For media inquiries, please email Jordan Campbell at director@grackentucky.org.
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GRAC One of Two Sites in U.S. Selected for Smithsonian Youth Innovation Project
MT. STERLING, KY: The Gateway Regional Arts Center (GRAC) announced today that it has been selected to create one of two projects nationwide for the Smithsonian’s Youth Innovation in Rural America initiative. The program is a collaboration between youth, GRAC, and Montgomery County Public Schools who will use the tools of the design process to lead to innovation in their local community. Through this project the youth will engage in meaningful conversations with the community, draw from their history and local culture, work to identify opportunities, and propose positive change.
Teachers participating in Youth Innovation in Rural America will receive in-person professional development design literacy training from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Using the design literacy training, teachers will engage students to use design to complete a project where they conduct research, interview community members, and interpret historic and contemporary issues to solve an everyday challenge. A group of students will also document the design process and the innovation conversations occurring in the community.
The Gateway Regional Arts Center (GRAC) is a 12,000 square foot regional cultural center, housed in the former United Methodist Church building (built in 1853 and renovated in 2009), in the historic downtown center in Mount Sterling. GRAC offers daily low-cost and free classes and workshops to area residents through its Arts Academy and a variety of literary, performing, and visual arts programming through their annual Event Series. The forthcoming creation of the Small Town America Institute for Rural Arts & Culture is also housed at GRAC, and will provide research and policy toolkits for arts organizations across the nation who seek guidance on managing successful cultural programming in rural areas.
Montgomery County Schools (MCS) serves as the public school district in vibrant Montgomery County, Kentucky. By creating and sustaining a top-notch, comprehensive, educational program that serves to promote public schools as the best option for our children and future, MCS aims to be a model school district. The school system is committed to providing leadership throughout the state by being the educational standard of excellence through innovation, leadership development, performance driven schools, and the support and involvement of stakeholders. The district serves approximately 4,500 students and consists of four elementary schools (PK-5), one middle school (6-8), one alternative school (7-12), 1 site school (7-12) and one high school (9-12).
Museum on Main Street (MoMS) is a partnership between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) and state humanities councils. It was created to serve museums, libraries and historical societies in rural areas, where one-fifth of all Americans live. SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for over 65 years. It connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. For more information, including exhibition descriptions and tour schedules, visit www.sites.si.edu.
Cooper Hewitt is America’s design museum. Inclusive, innovative and experimental, the museum’s dynamic exhibitions, education programs, master’s program, publications and online resources inspire, educate and empower people through design. An integral part of the Smithsonian Institution, Cooper Hewitt is located on New York City’s Museum Mile in the historic, landmark Carnegie Mansion. Steward of one of the world’s most diverse and comprehensive design collections, Cooper Hewitt welcomes everyone to discover the importance of design and its power to change the world. For more information, visit www.cooperhewitt.org.
Support for Youth Innovation in Rural America was provided by internal Smithsonian Institution funds from the Youth Access Grants.
GRAC to Re-Institute Gateway Community Youth Chorus with Focus on Region-Wide Reach
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022
MT STERLING: Today, the staff of the Gateway Regional Arts Center is thrilled to announce plans to reinstate the Gateway Community Youth Chorus (GCYC) for area young people. The choir, which will be housed at GRAC, is focused on reaching not only students in Montgomery County, but also those in surrounding communities that don’t have a local outlet for vocal music. After a unanimous vote, the Board of Directors approved a one year contract for a new director, Ross Haney, to head up the choral group’s activities.
Haney, who lives in Carslile, expressed excitement about bringing youth from across the Gateway area together to make music. “I am extremely excited to be working with students from throughout the region with the Gateway Community Youth Chorus. I believe that singing is foundational in a child's music education, and for some students it is a great outlet for expressing themselves and relieving the stresses of their everyday life. Regardless of their experience level in singing, I would be privileged to teach them and bring them into the GCYC family.”
Executive Director Jordan Campbell, who was a member of the GCYC in the first year of its inception many years ago, remembers his time fondly and is grateful to be bringing it back to life. “When I was a singer in GCYC, I found a sense of community with other young people from across the county and beyond. It provided an outlet for me that school programs and private lessons couldn’t. I am so proud to be bringing this program back, and I hope the community will support this endeavor as much as they did the first time around several years ago.”
The chorus will start accepting applications from youth in grades 4-8 in 2023 with a slated start in March. More information about the GCYC will be released at a later date.
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GRAC to appoint a fully voting Youth Member to Board of Directors
MT. STERLING, KY: The Gateway Regional Arts Center is thrilled to announce the addition of a Youth Board Member on the Board of Directors. In a unanimous vote by the sitting Board of Directors, a seat on the Board - reserved for a young person aged 16-20 - is now open for applications to youth residing in Montgomery and surrounding counties.
“We at GRAC are very excited to add a youth position to our Board,” said Crystal Dempsey-Gillum, President of the Board of Directors. “We want to ensure that our young people have a voice in the local arts community.”
The Youth Board Member will have full voting rights, as well as all responsibilities given to adult members of the Board. The young person selected will be expected to attend all GRAC Board meetings, which occur on the second Tuesday of each month. Additionally, the Youth Board Member will be tasked with managing the Youth Advisory Council in coordination with GRAC Staff.
“This community has long touted its commitment to youth, and I am proud that GRAC is taking steps to give young people tangible power and agency in the decision-making process at our cultural center. This young person will collaborate with their classmates and friends as the Chair of the Youth Advisory Council, and will serve as a strong advocate in our community,” said GRAC Executive Director Jordan Campbell. “It’s an excellent opportunity to make real change in our region. We look forward to appointing a young leader to help us move forward with a visible youth presence at GRAC.”
The Youth Board Member application is open, and the deadline to apply is December 12, 2022. Interested applicants can access the application here.
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GRAC initiates Creative & Courageous Community Conversations Series
MT. STERLING, KY: The Gateway Regional Arts Center and its Board of Directors today announced the start of a new collection of arts events that will tackle sensitive or challenging social issues through the power of storytelling, artistry, and community. The Creative & Courageous Community Conversations Series aims to bring together a diverse cohort of community members with a wide range of beliefs and backgrounds to discuss tough issues through different artistic mediums.
“For too long, politics have been divisive in our communities. It has gotten to the point where we can’t have civil dialogue when we disagree,” shared GRAC Executive Director Jordan Campbell. “Through this series, we hope to be the solution that can help folks see the humanity in those with whom we don’t see eye to eye on challenging topics. Politics and social media have torn our communities apart. We hope that art and creativity will heal divides and allow us to engage in healthy conversations across lines of difference and, perhaps, we will walk away with more in common than we have in opposition.”
The Creative & Courageous Community Conversations Series will intentionally bring together people who have differing views on potentially divisive, socially relevant issues. “We want there to be vigorous disagreement - we are designing this so that it is a way to share empathy across viewpoints,” continued Campbell. “That friction is where we find common ground and are reminded that care for community is more important than the little things that divide us.”
The series will include quarterly events that utilize a variety of art forms - theatre, dance, music, and visual art - to inspire community discussions around a given topic. “Everyone - and we do mean everyone - is welcome at this event. We want people to leave with greater understanding of the worldview from those with whom they don’t agree, and what is a more powerful way to do that than through the arts?” said Campbell.
The first installment of the Creative & Courageous Community Conversations Series will commence in October 2022. More details will be released in the coming weeks.
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Sinclaire Marie Hired as Community Outreach Coordinator at GRAC
Mt. Sterling, KY: Gateway Regional Arts Center Executive Director Jordan Campbell and the Board of Directors for the Montgomery County Council for the Arts are pleased to announce the hiring of Sinclaire Marie for the role of Community Outreach Coordinator at GRAC.
As a new member of the Arts Center, Sinclaire’s new role will include managing and building relationships with partner organizations and members of the community to raise awareness of the Art Center’s opportunities. Through various art projects and activities, Sinclaire’s goal is to bring all of the arts to all of the people in the Gateway Area.
Executive Director Jordan Campbell expressed excitement about having Sinclaire on the team at GRAC. “It is very exciting that we are able to put an emerging local artist to work, reaching out into our communities,” he said. “Sinclaire’s positive energy and artistic ability will help us be the tentacles that extend the arts outside of our building and permeate across the region.” Bethany Goldy, the newly promoted Director of Operations at GRAC, agreed. “Sinclaire is a great addition to our team. She will be helping us live out our new mantra, All the Arts for All the People.”
Outside of the GRAC, Sinclaire is a practicing artist specializing in ceramics, charcoal, and oil paint. Sinclaire is a recent graduate of Morehead State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. During her undergraduate career, she was selected the Outstanding Freshman, Sophomore, and Senior in Art & Design. Sinclaire worked in an Undergraduate Research Fellowship with the Golding-Yang Gallery as a gallery assistant.
She is a recent graduate of Morehead State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. During her undergraduate career, she received Best in Show at the Rowan County Spring Showcase, and First Place at the Gateway Regional Art Center’s 23rd Annual Fall Student Art Exhibit, and was published in Inscape (2021 and 2022). Sinclaire has exhibited her artwork at the Lexington Art League’s PRHBTN, Huntington Museum of Art, Appalachian Artisan Center, and the Kentucky State Capital.
The mission of the Montgomery County Council for the Arts, and the Gateway Regional Arts Center, is to promote, enhance, and contribute to the educational, artistic, and cultural lives of those living in Central and Eastern Kentucky.
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Bethany Goldy Promoted to Director of Operations of GRAC
Gateway Regional Arts Center Executive Director Jordan Campbell and the Board of Directors for the Montgomery County Council for the Arts are pleased to announce the promotion of Bethany Goldy to the role of Director of Operations at GRAC.
While Beth has been a staple at the Arts Center for several years, her new role will include more direct oversight on the day-to-day operations of GRAC and the management of several internal systems, procedures, and policies.
“I am happy to be working with Beth in this capacity,” said Campbell. “We operate very well as a team, and I am grateful for her institutional knowledge that keeps this place running. She always says yes to my craziest ideas and helps to make them a reality."
Beth agreed, and sees great possibility in the role. “The Big Yellow Building is bursting with all of the exciting programming Jordan is bringing to the community. I look forward to what we can accomplish together to bring all arts to all of the people of the Gateway Area.”
A Montgomery County native, Goldy is entering her 5th year with GRAC. As Director of Operations she reviews, analyzes, and evaluates procedures as well as implements policies to improve day-to-day operations. From interim director to bartending GRAC events, Beth has done it all with a focus on fostering a sense of community across the region, a belief that everyone has the heart of an artist, and that the arts should be accessible for all.
Coming from a 17 year background as an IT specialist, Beth first dipped her toes in the world of nonprofits with the Montgomery County History Museum before finding her eventual home at GRAC. She also moonlights as a receptionist at the Post Clinic as well as providing IT support and social media management for a local auction house.
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U.S. Poet Laureate to give Public Reading at Gateway Regional Arts Center in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky
U.S. Poet Laureate to visit Gateway Regional Arts Center in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky
The Gateway Regional Arts Center and its Board of Directors are thrilled to announce the upcoming visit of U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón to the center on March 6, 2023. This is the first United States Poet Laureate to formally visit Mt. Sterling.
“An Intimate Evening With Ada Limón,” presented by NiSource Charitable Foundation & Columbia Gas, will consist of a poetry reading followed by a talk with Executive Director Jordan Campbell. Ms. Limón will then engage in an audience Q&A and book signing event. Ms. Limón will also conduct a poetry workshop and talkback with Gateway area youth prior to the public event.
“We are beyond thrilled to welcome the U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón to the Gateway Regional Arts Center, and to Mt. Sterling,” said Executive Director Jordan Campbell. “The magnitude of this event will be felt for many years in this institution and this community. I am grateful to our Board for their support of the event.” In addition to her workshop, reading, Q&A, and book signing, Ms. Limón will be presented with a Key to the City of Mt. Sterling by Mayor Al Botts.
About Ada Limón
Ada Limón is the author of six books of poetry, including The Carrying, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry. Her book Bright Dead Things was nominated for the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. Her work has been supported most recently by a Guggenheim Fellowship. She grew up in Sonoma, California and now lives in Lexington, Kentucky where she writes, teaches remotely, and hosts the critically-acclaimed poetry podcast, The Slowdown. Her new book of poetry, The Hurting Kind, is out now from Milkweed Editions. She is the 24th Poet Laureate of The United States.
Event Details
The event will be held March 6, 2023. While it’s a long way off, Campbell notes that space in the Performance Hall is limited and tickets will go quickly. “Several folks have said they’re buying tickets as a Christmas gift, so I expect them to be gone before the new year,” he said.
The public program will begin at 6:00 PM. Individuals who wish to meet Ada Limón can purchase VIP Sponsor Tickets, which include a private meet & greet reception with the U.S. Poet Laureate. More details about the student poetry workshop will be shared at a later date.
Ticket Information
Tickets for the program will go onsale to the public on Monday, September 19 at 9:00 AM ET. Donors to GRAC who are Community Sponsors or Pillar Donors can purchase tickets on the Pre-Sale release date, Monday, September 12 at 9:00 AM.
For more information, and to purchase tickets, please click here.
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