Contact Information

Sarah Bowker
Managing Director

824 Bull Lea Run Suite 222 Lexington, KY 40511-9383

859-257-7272

CEDIK@lsv.uky.edu

Community Arts Extension

Community Arts Extension

Community Arts Extension

Art for Engaged Communities

Enriching communities through creative approaches to engagement with the people that live there.

Kentucky Community Arts Extension develops and promotes support for arts education and development in Kentucky counties, coordinated in partnership with University of Kentucky College of Fine ArtsCooperative Extension and other local, state and national arts organizations. 

Community Arts program resources are delivered through county extension professionals embedded in 8 Kentucky counties and at the state level. This programming serves diverse needs of Kentucky residents and is quick to adapt to the interests of local populations by creatively engaging communities through art activities, events, public art and performances and more. Community Arts also offers training opportunities for extension professionals, community leaders and volunteers. 

Story Circle photo

Publications

Want to learn how art creates community change? These articles document creative, research-based approaches to community engagement, livability, well-being and recovery.

Explore our Resources

Mandala photo

Programming

Are you ready to engage and inspire your community with art? Learn about opportunities for the development of artistic skills and creative thinking in Kentucky communities.

Explore Programming & Engagement

community arts event booth

Creative Placemaking

Are you ready to enhance your community? Community Arts Extension supports intentional and creative community development through the strengthening of place identity.

Explore Creative Placemaking

About Community Arts

Kentucky Community Arts Extension has pioneered the use of grassroots-level, county-based arts extension agents and assistants to conduct community development through the arts.

Mission

Kentucky Community Arts Extension improves the quality of life for communities and individuals in Kentucky through a multidisciplinary arts approach in education, research and outreach.

Strategy

Providing arts leadership, curriculum development and engagement at the county, regional and state level through Community Arts extension agents, support staff, associates, specialists and faculty to impact 3 core areas - the Arts Extension Strategic Initiatives.

Goal

To provide community and economic development, quality arts engagement and essential skill enhancement while creating a resilient arts ecosystem through the Cooperative Extension infrastructure and framework.

Mary Poppins childrens theatre at Artist Collaborative Theatre photo

Strategic Initiatives:

Quality Arts Engagement

High Quality Arts Engagement, Increasing Access to Quality Arts Experiences and Volunteer Recruitment & Development.

Enhancing Essential Skills

Direct Arts Programming, Artistic Skill Development and Essential Skill Development.

Community & Economic Development

Community Design/Placemaking, Enhancing the Creative Economy and Arts & Community Health.

pottery wheel class photo

Community Arts Resources

Search by topic for publications, resources and activities to infuse your community with art and creativity.

Two people hug over a table of art

Arts in Health

These arts resources can offer health and wellness benefits to residents of your community.

Explore Arts in Health

People work on creative engagement around a table

Creative Engagement

Explore ways to engage with your community creatively and with intention.

Explore Creative Engagement

People work on weaving crafts

Skills-Building

These resources focus on building arts skills in different media.

Explore Skills-Building

People volunteer for disaster recovery

Disaster Recovery

These resources can guide your creative community through preparedness, response and long-term recovery for weather-related disasters and other unforeseen circumstances.

Explore Disaster Recovery

A girl tie-dyes a shirt

Youth Arts

These resources provide visual arts experiences with simple materials and the opportunity to extend learning through other extension programming.

Explore Youth Arts

Program Contact

Melissa Bond

Extension Director for CED and Community Arts

859-257-7272 melissa.bond@uky.edu 824 Bull Lea Run Suite 222 Lexington, KY 40511-9383

Contact Information

Sarah Bowker
Managing Director

824 Bull Lea Run Suite 222 Lexington, KY 40511-9383

859-257-7272

CEDIK@lsv.uky.edu