In order to be responsive to Kentucky Residents’ needs during Covid-19, the Arts Extension teams in Greenup, Pike, and Whitley counties 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 Cooperative Extension Offices.    

The Arts Extension Agents created 3,500 packets that included needed art supplies, art history lessons, step-by-step instructions, and contact information to allow residents to experience meaningful arts engagement at their own home.   The Arts Agents collaborated with local teachers as well as the Family Resource and Youth Services Center to remove barriers to access.    Through these take-home art projects and thanks to innovative and nontraditional marketing approaches, Arts Agents reached new members of the community that had not previously utilized Extension services. 

For some Take Home Art Kits, Agents recorded Facebook Live videos to further assist participants with developing confidence in new artistic approaches.  Pike County’s Arts Extension staff created kits for participants to pick up at the Extension Office beforehand, then had clientele log onto a live Zoom class to experience an interactive Paint on Canvas workshop to provide high-quality art instruction and address the social isolation residents were experiencing due to stay-at-home orders. 

Most participants were not familiar with several art forms that were shared and valued both the hands-on arts instruction as well as the educational materials on artists and art styles throughout history.  The Greenup County Arts Agent also included prompts and activities from the national Artwork Archive and wellness projects from the University of Florida Arts in Medicine.  Through this innovative approach, Arts Agents were able to provide their local residents access to research-based information on a local, state, and national level. 

 By incorporating art games and techniques in the packets, Arts Extension staff discovered a new, engaging way to provide instruction outside of the traditional Extension model, as well as introduced families to new art materials they did not have access to otherwise.  When asked about the experience, one Whitley County participant said, “While doing the art packets with my daughter, we have been able to have ‘us time.’ We both have become more open to different skill levels with the furnished art supplies. We would have never been able to learn the different art styles if it weren’t for the packets.  We both love the step by step directions that come along with the packets. Any level person can create a masterpiece.” 

This valuable feedback proves that Kentucky residents are never too old or young to meet their mental and emotional needs by receiving access to quality arts and artistic skill development through the Arts Extension program at University of Kentucky.