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 Arts, Cooperative 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.
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 ResourcesProgramming
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 & EngagementCreative 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 PlacemakingAbout 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.
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.
Community Arts Resources
Search by topic for publications, resources and activities to infuse your community with art and creativity.
Arts in Health
These arts resources can offer health and wellness benefits to residents of your community.
Explore Arts in HealthCreative Engagement
Explore ways to engage with your community creatively and with intention.
Explore Creative EngagementSkills-Building
These resources focus on building arts skills in different media.
Explore Skills-BuildingDisaster 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 RecoveryYouth Arts
These resources provide visual arts experiences with simple materials and the opportunity to extend learning through other extension programming.
Explore Youth Arts