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

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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Arts & Recovery partnership plans to bring creative recovery program to female inmates at Montgomery County Regional Jail

MT. STERLING, KY: The Gateway Regional Arts Center (GRAC), Montgomery County Regional Jail (MCRJ), and the Montgomery County Health Department (MCHD) are pleased to announce their new relationship to utilize the power of art for positive social development with female inmates at the Montgomery County Regional Jail. In coordination with the BRITE Program (Bringing Resources and Information To Empower), this program will manifest as a long-term relationship between the two entities, providing art-related therapy experiences for women who live in the facility. 

“We, at the Gateway Regional Arts Center, are thrilled to be working with the BRITE Program to bring a spark of creativity to the lives of inmates at MCRJ,” said Jordan Campbell, Executive Director at GRAC. “The staff, including Jailer Ian Roberts and Chief Deputy Beth Willoughby, have been very supportive. We are also grateful to Angie Gregory at MCHD for thinking of the arts as a possibility in the already wonderful BRITE Program. This partnership will provide a consistent, encouraging creative outlet for inmates and, we hope, reduce recidivism in the long run.”

Jailer Ian Roberts shared the positive sentiment about the new partnership. ”Having taken art classes myself, I see the impact it can give expressing oneself and help to develop positive coping skills,” said Jailer Roberts. “Using art as a constructive strategy can be a new way to enhance self-expression, coping skills, stress management, and a strengthened sense of self worth.” BRITE Program Lead Angie Gregory, who has worked with the women at MCRJ for 3 years, agreed. “Healing arts is a wonderful opportunity for those in recovery or struggling with addiction,” she said. “The beauty of the arts is the various forms it can take such as painting, music and writing to allow for self expression and reflection.”

GRAC’s doors opened in 2009 and is committed to enriching the lives of people in Central and Eastern Kentucky through arts & cultural programming. It’s recent creation of the Arts & Initiative aims to create deeply embedded community partnerships with critical social services and municipal organizations to bring art to those who might otherwise not have access to creative opportunities. MCRJ shares a similar mission; in developing positive coping skills and outlets, an individual can be a productive member of society. The BRITE Program, funded through KY Overdose to Acton Grant (KYOD2A), is designed to provide linkage to care and offer resources for those struggling with addiction or in recovery. The program will consist of regular art instruction, workshops, public art showings in the Frye Gallery at GRAC, and even murals inside the jail. GRAC will provide qualified artists to instruct classes, as well as materials, and MCHD will provide integrated therapy and substance abuse-related resources. 

The ultimate goal for all three organizations is that the arts experiences will provide hope, engagement, and skill-building for the women. The end goal is that this is a tangible, life-changing avenue for those dealing with drug recovery and involvement in the justice system. “Our slogan at the Arts Center is All the Arts for All the People,” said Campbell. “And we really do mean ALL. These women are human beings, as we all are - and every human deserves the chance to learn and grow. Art is an excellent vehicle for healing and change.”

The program kicks off in September and will culminate in a public art gallery at the Gateway Regional Arts Center on Main Street in Mt. Sterling. 

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Welcome to GRAC Updates!

Stay tuned here for updates - events, workshops, ticket information, and more form GRAC as it becomes available! As always, do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have questions: info@grackentucky.org.