GCAC

Press release

LANCASTER — The Garrard Community Art Center has acquired a new location, directly across from the Grand Theater at 112 Lexington St. in Lancaster. The three-story building has been empty for several months and recently put on the market. GCAC was offered the basement and first floor; all that is requires is some renovation. 

Garrard County Art Council President, Jean Turner said, “The future new home for the Arts Center will allow us to expand art experiences for our schools, county and artists, as well as surrounding communities. We have plans for a ceramics studio, exercise and dance classes, puppetry, musical events, culinary arts events, and much more, including space to have multiple activities going on at the same time. We want the new center to be bustling with opportunities for everyone to nurture the “artist” within us all.”

Art Director Bobbi Gayle Lewis said, “I am so excited about our new location. The new location will allow us to provide a better art experience for the community. Our gallery and studio space will be much larger and we will have space for our pottery and ceramics that we were unable to have in our old building. Being within walking distance to the elementary and middle school will allow easy access for our children to become involved in our programs. Our future plans at this location include a puppet theater and space for Community Theater to rehearse and a commercial kitchen for culinary arts. Our New Gift Gallery will provide a better venue to display and sell art from our very talented artists in our community. This center belongs to the community and we hope that everyone will get involved in making it happen.”

Due to the renovation, the opening date is still pending. Much help from the GCAC members and the community are needed to bring the center’s dreams to life. Plans include a working studio for classes, gallery and gift shop, ceramic studio, dance-theater-music studio and chef’s kitchen for culinary classes.

The Richmond Street gallery and gift shop will close June 29, but other programs will continue through the summer. Artists with work in the gallery and gift shop are being asked to pick up their artwork. While between locations, the artists will be given a webpage on www.garrardarts.com to allow the community to see and buy the work of each artist and stay in touch with while in transition.

The GCAC will be fundraising to make all this happen. Its first event will be a House and Garden Tour on June 23 (rain date June 24).  The tour will include five locations in the Lancaster and Stanford areas, with art, music and food at each site. More information will be posted on the organization’s Facebook page and website.

Renovation progress will be posted on the website and Facebook (at facebook.com/garrardartscounil) page as well. To join GCAC or volunteer, email contact@garrardarts.com or call Director Lewis at (859) 948-6988.