Arts and CreativityPlan of Work

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Whitley County CES

Title:
Arts and Creativity
MAP:
Community Arts Engagement
Agents Involved:
Moses, Daniels, 4H
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Community Design/Creative Placemaking
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Financial & Marketing Literacy for Artisans
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Arts Engagement
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Building Healthy Coalitions
Situation:

The Whitley County Extension Fine Arts Council has identified enhancing artisan skills, community poverty rates, citizen engagement, and a qualified workforce as pressing concerns for Whitley County Extension to address. According to Americans for the Arts, “The arts are integral to the lives of our citizens. The arts are essential to the health and vitality of our communities and our nation.” In the rapidly changing (and challenging) times in which we live, the arts can address county poverty, resident vitality, and a vibrant local economy.


Data from The College Board shows that students who take four years of arts and music classes while in high school score 98 points better on their SATs than students who took only one-half year or less. It is clear that the arts, music, creative writing, drawing, and dance, provide skills that contribute to increased quality of life. Not only does participation in arts programming and artisan entrepreneurship create a skilled and educated workforce for local community businesses to have quality employees, but it also contributes to resilient families and communities, vibrant culture, and significant economic impact to local residents. Without Fine Arts Extension the Whitley county citizens would have to drive 1 hour for a comparable art experience. There are very little opportunities in the arts in Whitley county and Extension Fine Arts fills this gap at a free or affordable cost.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Whitley County residents will recognize Extension Fine Arts as a valuable provider of educational, economic, and social opportunities and skills within the arts and develop an increased appreciation for the arts.

Whitley County will have a strong, healthy community arts coalition that meets 3-4 times a year and supports artists through preparing bi-annual arts exhibits and developing the annual Appalachian winter market.

Whitley County will grow artistically in conjunction with our economic growth, making Whitley County an increasingly vibrant place to live.

Intermediate Outcomes:

They will share their interests and skills with others in their homes or within their support group.

Local Artist will artistic skills such as dancing, sculpture, drawing, music, theater, creative writing to residents of Whitley County. 

To increase recognition of the arts and the importance of the arts within Williamsburg, Corbin, and all rural communities within the county.

Whitley County will identify opportunities for creative placemaking and community design.

Initial Outcomes:

Residents gain new skills in the arts.

Residents will recognize that art is an intergral part of life.

Create a sense of connection to community through the arts.

More citizens aspire to volunteer in in fine arts programing and events.

More students believe they can carve an artistic, yet financially solvent career.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome:

Indicator: Continue and growth of established events and local participation

Method: Focus Groups?Surveys

Timeline: 2017-2018


Intermediate Outcome:

Indicator: Growth in Participation

Method: Focus Groups/Email lists/Social Media numbers/Conversations/Newspaper Articles/Radio

Timeline: 2017-2020


Long-term Outcome:

Indicator: Knowledge of organization and resources

Method: Surveys

Timeline: 2019-2020

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Residents, Artists, Farmers

Project or Activity: Appalachian Winter Market

Content or Curriculum: Event Coordinators

Inputs: Fine Arts Agent

Date: November- Ongoing


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Community Wreath Making

Content or Curriculum: Natural Resource Publication, 4-H curriculum, AG curriculum, Hort Curriculum

Inputs: Fine Arts Agent, Hort Agent, Volunteers

Date: December-ongoing


Audience: School Age

Project or Activity: Extension Field Days

Content or Curriculum: UK publication, curriculum

Inputs: Fine Arts Agent, UK faculty, Volunteers, Artists, 21st century, 4-H, FCS, Horticulture, Agriculture, SNAP, EFNEP

Date: Yearly-ongoing


Audience: General Public/Families

Project or Activity: Dance Classes: Line Dancing, Belly Dancing, Choreography 

Content or Curriculum: Artist Curriculum, KET Dance toolkit

Inputs: Fine Arts Agent, Volunteers, Artists

Date: Yearly-ongoing


Audience: General Public/Families

Project or Activity: Artistic Skill Development: Visual Arts-Textile, Sculpture, Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Design, etc.

Content or Curriculum: UK publication, KET, curriculum, Artists

Inputs: Fine Arts Agent, UK faculty, Volunteers, Artists

Date: Yearly-ongoing


Audience: General Public/Families

Project or Activity: Open Mic Night

Content or Curriculum: Local Musicians

Inputs: Fine Arts Agent, Volunteers, Artists, Fine Arts Assistant

Date: Yearly-ongoing


Audience: General Public/Families

Project or Activity: Open Pottery

Content or Curriculum: UK publication, KET, curriculum, 

Inputs: Fine Arts Agent, UK faculty, Volunteers, Artists

Date: Yearly-ongoing


Audience: General Public/Families

Project or Activity: Arts Wellness Hike

Content or Curriculum: UK physical activity publications, Horticulture Publications

Inputs: Fine Arts Agent, Hort agent, 4-H, Ag

Date: Spring-Summer-Fall- monthly


Audience: General Public/Families

Project or Activity: Earth Day Celebration

Content or Curriculum: UK publication, Fine Arts, KSU, SNAP, NASA, 4-H, Horticulture, Agriculture, FCS

Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, Soil Conservation Service, Adult Education Service, Save the Children, Local Recycling organizations, schools, City Government, Farmers Market, EFNEP 

Date: April-ongoing


Audience: General/Families

Project or Activity: Exhibits: Whitley County Meets Art

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Arts Council,  UK publications, 

Inputs: Fine Arts Agent, Kentucky Arts Council exhibits, Arts Organization, Whitley County Schools, Professional Instructor, Local Artists

Date: Yearly-ongoing


Audience: Families and Children

Project or Activity: Early Childhood Development through Creativity

Content or Curriculum: Art to the Heart-KET, Fine Arts Curriculum 

Inputs: Fine Arts agent, Whitley County Health Department, UK, Volunteers

Date: 2017-2020


Audience: Whitley County Residents

Project or Activity: Community Arts Education Classes

Content or Curriculum: Music, Art, 4-H youth activities etc.

Inputs: Agents, Assistants, Community Leaders, Local Artist

Date: 2016-2020


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Enhancing Business and Marketing Skills of Eastern Kentucky Artist

Content or Curriculum: Artisan Education Curriculum, STLW

Inputs: Fine Arts agent, Local Artist

Date: Winter


Audience: Whitley County School Teachers

Project or Activity: Professional Development for Art Teachers

Content or Curriculum: Fine Arts Classes, 4-H curriculum

Inputs: Fine Arts agent, Volunteers 

Date: Ongoing


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Old Fashioned Trading Days Quilt Show

Content or Curriculum: Tourism/CEDIK

Inputs: Fine Arts Agent, Homemakers, FCS Agent,  Fine Arts Assistant

Date: September 2016-2020


Audience: General Public, Youth and Families, Farmers

Project or Activity: Extension Arts Corner at the Whitley County Farmers Markets

Content or Curriculum: Art activities, Artist Demonstrations, Educational materials

Inputs: Artists, Volunteers, Fine Arts Agent, Fine Arts Assistant

Date: Summer-Thursdays, Weekly,  April-August


Audience: General Public, Youth and Families, CEC

Project or Activity: Paint the Town with Murals

Content or Curriculum: Fine Arts, 4-H, 

Inputs: Artists, Volunteers, Fine Arts Agent, All Agents, CEC members, Schools, Local Government

Date: Summer 2018-2020


Audience: General Public/Artists

Project or Activity: Fine Arts Groups- Art Journaling, Mountain Textiles, Pottery

Content or Curriculum: Fine Arts, University, Volunteer 

Inputs: Artists, Volunteers, Fine Arts Agent, community input, Fine Arts Assistant

Date: Ongoing monthly 2017-2020


Audience: General Public, Youth and Families

Project or Activity: Drama Camp

Content or Curriculum: Fine Arts, School 

Inputs: Artists, Volunteers, Fine Arts Agent, Whitley County High School Drama Teacher

Date: 2018-2020


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Yoga/ Chair Yoga

Content or Curriculum: Healthy Activities, SNAP

Inputs: Community Members

Date: 2018-2020


Audience: General Public/Artists

Project or Activity: Artist of the Month

Content or Curriculum: Local Artist

Inputs: Community Members, Artists, Fine Arts Agent, Fine Arts Assistant

Date: 2018-2020






Success Stories

Basket Group

Author: Cortney Moses

Major Program: Artistic Skill Development

Among Whitley County residents there exists a strong desire to make baskets. This desire could stem from our handy Appalachian roots, a need to carry on traditions, or simply admiration of the beauty baskets possess. Whitley County Fine Arts has been providing basket making educational opportunities including basket making demos at schools and field days as well as providing classes at the Extension Community Arts Center averaging 3 per year over the last 8 years. This has been made possible due

Full Story

Earth Week Celebration

Author: Cortney Moses

Major Program: Arts Engagement

Environmental awareness is an extremely important topic and Earth Day is a great opportunity to spread climate education as well as many other environmental stewardship topics within the community. This year’s Earth Day celebration was quite different than years past. With the Covid-19 pandemic at a critical point the Whitley County extension office needed to improvise. The Extension Fine Arts Agent, Cortney Moses, has always strived to make the celebration a community partnership and this

Full Story

Take-home Art Project Enhances Artistic Skill in Whitley County

Author: Cortney Moses

Major Program: Increasing Access to Quality Arts Experiences

In order to be responsive to Whitley County Residents’ needs during Covid-19, the Whitley County Arts Extension team identified an opportunity to continue to provide hands-on arts instruction through socially distanced learning by creating take-home art packets for residents to experience. These packets were targeted toward families confined within their home that have traditionally received instruction in-person at the art center.   The Arts Extension staff created 410 packets t

Full Story
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