Author: Cortney Moses
Planning Unit: Whitley County CES
Major Program: Increasing Access to Quality Arts Experiences
Plan of Work: Unrelated to a specified County Plan of Work
Outcome: Initial Outcome
Whitley Countians are blessed to have 2 extension locations, the Main office centrally located in the county and Extension Community Art Center located on Main Street in Williamsburg. The later was the original location of the extension office before the board decided to relocate. The downtown building set vacant for many years. In 2011 the board voted to turn it into a Community Art Center. The building was old and needed work but was patched in a hurry in order to accommodate a traveling Smithsonian Exhibit. For the next 7 years the Extension Fine Arts employees and volunteers made the best of the space providing unique arts experiences and a multitude of arts programming to the community including local artist exhibits, pottery, basket making, and much more.
The Art Center’s large meeting room and kitchen was outdated and the concrete floor had been deteriorating. The conditions of the floor were unsightly plus extremely hard to keep clean. There was concerns of transporting art such as fragile pottery from room to room over the rough floor. With the increase of community participation, programming, and art receptions many tax payers voiced concerns about the current state of the meeting room floor. In 2019 Fine Arts agent Cortney Moses presented to the Extension District Board a proposal to remodel this part of the building. The remodel included new concrete floor, new paint, rebuilding the stage, new cabinets and kitchen design including expanding countertop and cabinet space and moving the stove to increase educational functionality.
The board approved the proposal and work started in August of 2019 and concluded in January 2020. Moses facilitated the work of local contractor, plumbers, electrician, and all other parties involved while providing communication to the board throughout the process. With the many challenges a remodel can face Moses managed to keep the project under budget and now Whitley County has a space that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional. The redesigned kitchen opens up opportunities for art demonstrations using a stove and cooking demonstrations as well as community events. This project has increased the value of the Extension Community Art Center and will increase learning opportunities for Whitley Countians.
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