Extension
It Starts With Us
Pike County Arts Advancement
Community and Economic Development
Porter, Froman
Artistic & Essential Skill Development
Advancing the Creative Economy
Community Design/Creative Placemaking
Quality Arts Engagement & Experiences
The Pike County Extension Council identified music and arts diversification, handcrafted artisan awareness and expanding arts to the community as a need for the county. There has been a sharp decline in the arts program in our schools. We are committed to educating and empowering citizens through the arts as well as enhancing the community and economic development of our communities through arts programming.
Increase in essential skills for students and adults: critical thinking, problem-solving, and responsibility. Increased attendance in arts activities. Increase in leadership skills. Increase in tourism. Communities will gain public art installations.
Increase in knowledge of music, dance, drama, and/or visual arts. Increased attendance in arts programming. Increase in knowledge for artists in marketing and finance.
Increased awareness of arts programming. Business support of events. Word of mouth and marketing of events increases. Family participation increases in events.
Outcome - initial: new arts programming and events
Indicator: schedule/reporting
Method: classes, venues, events
Timeline: Spring 2021 and ongoing
Outcome - intermediate: increased knowledge of arts, better quality of life
Indicator: observation, reports, event participation
Method: surveys, sign-in sheets
Timeline: Fall 2023
Outcome – long-term: Artists benefit financially. Marketing of products and skills increase. Tourism money spent increases. Interest in arts activities increases.
Indicator: Increase in sales for artists. Increase in event participation. Arts events are well attended.
Method: surveys, interviews, sign-in sheets
Timeline: Fall 2024
Audience: artists and entrepreneurs
Project or Activity: financial and business classes
Content or Curriculum: Small Business Development Center, UK
Inputs: teachers, guest speakers
Date: Fall 2022 and Spring 2023
Audience: people affected by substance use
Project or Activity: MARK program
Content or Curriculum: grant funded pilot curriculum
Inputs: agent, CEDIK
Date: June-July 2021
Audience: community
Project or Activity: Artisan Markets
Content or Curriculum: public spaces
Inputs: artists, small businesses
Date: Summer 2022, 2023, 2024
Audience: community
Project or Activity: Myers Towers art classes
Content or Curriculum: grant funded program for seniors, those with disabilities and/or lower socioeconomic status
Inputs: The APP, agent and paid staff, city employees, artists
Date: Spring 2022 - Fall 2022
Audience: families
Project or Activity: Toddler activity night
Content or Curriculum: arts activities for kids and parents
Inputs: agent and paid staff led
Date: Spring 2023 and monthly
Audience: community
Project or Activity: Community Arts
Content or Curriculum: arts activities for all ages, Facebook Live art
Inputs: agent and paid staff led
Date: Spring 2021 and monthly
Audience: community
Project or Activity: Blood Song play
Content or Curriculum: script, director-led instruction
Inputs: volunteers, paid staff, artists
Date: July and August, yearly
Audience: youth ages 5+
Project or Activity: art kits
Content or Curriculum: arts activities in kits available at the office
Inputs: agent, paid staff, community partners
Date: Once monthly beginning 2021 and ongoing. Clients have requested this even though COVID restrictions have eased.
Audience: stringed instrument and vocal artists
Project or Activity: Appalachian Symphony
Content or Curriculum: trained volunteer led lessons/curriculum
Inputs: teachers, volunteers
Date: weekly meetings beginning Spring 2021
Audience: Youth Ages 4-19
Project or Activity: Theatre and Expressive Arts
Content or Curriculum: Theatre Arts Curriculum
Inputs: Visual and performing arts, The APP, Artists Collaborative Theatre
Date: Spring 2022 and ongoing
Audience: community
Project or Activity: Farmers Market art activiteis
Content or Curriculum: arts activities for all ages, entertainment
Inputs: agent and paid staff led, Fine Arts volunteers
Date: Spring 2022 and monthly
Author: Kristy Porter
Major Program: Artistic & Essential Skill Development
Appalachian Symphony, in its seventh year, is a musical collective providing free music lessons and performance opportunities to people of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels. The program is completely free and increases music education access for people living in low-income conditions as well as providing an inclusive atmosphere that welcomes individuals who otherwise feel as though they do not "belong" in traditional music lesson settings. This includes, but is not limited to, pe
Author: Kristy Porter
Major Program: Quality Arts Engagement & Experiences
FMD (Functional Mental Disability) classrooms are full of excited, talented students. In 2021, Sue Akers, a Pike County 4-H program assistant, used her network connections from previous work at Belfry area schools to recognize and introduce this group of young people to 4-H programming. After an initial visit with one FMD class, this idea soon expanded to regular monthly visits with several FMD programs across the county. In Fall 2022, Sue approached the Pike County Community Arts team, say
Author: Kristy Porter
Major Program: Artistic & Essential Skill Development
When considering what art classes to offer the community, we try to offer familiar favorites while also introducing new concepts. Speaking to the latter, we decided to put forward a class series in an entirely new art medium—digital!Parker Taylor is a local artist with a deep knowledge of Procreate. Parker has designed logos, art, and merchandise for both personal endeavors and through commission from several organizations and businesses, including the City of Pikeville, Pikeville Pride, a
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: Kristy Porter
Major Program: Quality Arts Engagement & Experiences
In 2017, with the help of volunteer leaders, Pike County Extension Community Arts began Pikeville Poetry, to gather people to write poetry and share writing-related events together.Until 2020, Pikeville Poetry hosted dozens of writing workshops at both Extension and other various local locations, such as art stores and coffee shops. Pikeville Poetry even helped organize several local events, such as participating in 100 Thousand Poets for Change, part of the largest poetry reading in history wit
