Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Anne Stephens
Major Program: Community Design/Creative Placemaking
Greenup Old Fashion Days (OFD) is one of the longest-running community festivals in the state. Now in its 56th year, Greenup OFD spans three days and involves thousands of people through partnerships, performances, vendors, contests, and special events. The OFD committee is made up of 26 community volunteers, led by co-chairs: Anne Stephens and Bambi Reed. Anne is the Greenup Extension Agent for Community Arts and Bambi is a local business owner. Under this leadership, OFD has been able to
Author: Jayoung Koo
Major Program: Community Design/Creative Placemaking
Huntertown was once a thriving, close-knit African-American community where descendants of freed African-Americans lived in Woodford County, Kentucky. The UK Department of Landscape Architecture (UKLA) has been partnering with the Huntertown Community Interpretive Park (HCIP) Committee since 2020 to envision the former Huntertown site as a 38-acre public open space. UKLA revised the master plan during Phase 2 (2021-2022) to more appropriately reflect the community’s past footprints on the
Author: Kristy Porter
Major Program: Community Design/Creative Placemaking
In 2021, the Mountain Grrl Experience (MGE) festival debuted as a new community arts event in Pikeville, KY that is planned, organized, and executed by a team of local women. Overall, MGE is an exciting art and music event with intent to feature and promote the creativity of women in Appalachia in a safe and supportive environment. According to MGE organizers, their mission is to celebrate and nurture the artistry and strength of Appalachian women.The festival just completed its third and most s
Author: Jeff Fugate
Major Program: Community Design/Creative Placemaking
Climate Resilience through Community Resilience is a four-year creative scholarship project culminating in multiple public exhibitions in Hazard, a community vision plan, and capacity-building for local community institutions. We are currently at the beginning of year three. Partnering with the City of Hazard, InVision Hazard, Invest Appalachia, and Mountain Association, we seek to invite a conversation about climate impacts in coal country through participatory design processes. Further, w
Author: Jessica Evans
Major Program: Community Design/Creative Placemaking
Following the devastation of the tornados that wreaked havoc on western Kentucky in December 2021, 4-H Expressive Art Specialist approached UK Community Arts Extension about ways to collaborate that would boost morale for youth in the western region of the state.CEDIK staff partnered with 4-H to formulate a plan for designing and installing new murals at each of the 4-H Camps across the state, beginning with West Camp in Dawson Springs, Kentucky. A simple and vibrant design was selected and inst
