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.