Chair of Hastings Prescott Art Council Kathy O’Keefe, connected with KDWA to share about the art
councils work in the community and how folks can get connected.
“One year ago, we got the Power of 100. Do you know the Power of 100 Women?”
I do, yes.
“Okay, we won that amount of money last year for a project that we call Arts for All Ages. And we, as a board, were thinking about what community members are not accessing art programs and can we fill in the blanks for them. So, we did a pilot at Hastings Senior Health and Living, and we had an artist come in and work with them for six months—work with the residents that were interested in many different projects. And that’s what we used…we told our story at Power of 100 and won the money. So, we’ve expanded that program. We still are in Hastings Senior Health and Living. We’ve expanded it now to bring in artists into Benedictine. We also have been serving the VA hospital, working with those residents. And there’s the Stars program in school, which is our 18 to 20-year-old special ed students. They come over throughout the school year and do art with me. And now we’ve got another place we’re expanding, but I don’t think I can stay yet because we haven’t confirmed it, but another really exciting location that we’re expanding that program. So that’s just one of our programs. We have an art gallery in Prescott that we have had for about 10 years. We’re a part of the RAP (Rec, Arts, Police) program. So, we’re the arts part of that group. So, we plan art activities to take them out into the parks with that group.”
If folks wanted to get connected with the art center and get connected with these programs, how would they go about doing that?
“We do have a Facebook presence, and I’m the worst person to know about technology, but we do have a website, a place that they can connect that way. We also have a building right behind the post office. We have open art nights there, and we’ll be offering some classes.”
Do you know your website that people can go to?
“You mean, like the website address?”
Yes.
“I don’t. I’m not good at that stuff.”
You know? I’ll find it. I’ll pull out my computer.
“Okay?”
If I search Hastings Art Center, I’ll be able to find it.
“Hastings Prescott Art Council.”
Here, I’ll tell you. I’ll just say the website. It’s HastingsPrescottarts.org.
“Okay, there you go.”
(Laughter)
O’Keefe is a gem!
Again, to learn more about Hastings Prescott Art Council, visit www.HastingsPrescottArts.org.
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