From the annual campus kickoff to the yearly senior art exhibit, the Fine Arts Center has permeated the minds and piqued the interest of generations of Wabash men. While the institution supports the art, the department will broaden its campus and community impact in the coming semester.
Over the summer, Lilly Endowment Incorporated awarded the Multigeneration Arts Engagement, Leadership & Culture of Place grant to the Wabash Art Department. Beyond strengthening the arts at Wabash, the support will deepen the connection with schools near and far.
“Our program was selected through a competitive statewide review process that identified projects with the greatest potential to strengthen regional communities through arts and culture,” said Associate Professor of Art and Department Chair Annie Strader. For us, that means creating meaningful connections between Wabash College, local schools and cultural institutions like the Carnegie Museum. We will be bringing professional artists into our gallery and community in ways that benefit people of all ages and strengthen the creative life of Montgomery County.”
In the past five years, Indiana has built a Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) grant, with a ground-braking $1,250,000,000, with $64,000,000 funded through the Lilly Endowment Incorporated to support cultural arts in Indiana. The government relied on an external consultant to help determine the allocation of the funding.
There were meetings in nearly every county, including one held on the Wabash campus where members of Montgomery County discussed their thoughts on arts and culture. Ultimately, the College was able to work with the community to build a model for the Artist in Residence program and was successful in their application to the grant as a result
“This grant was made possible through our collaboration with the Montgomery County Community Foundation,” Salzman said. “They recognized a need to support the arts and historical restoration in a way that invests in our cultural spaces. Their partnership will bolster local organizations who depend on community grants for critical infrastructure and spaces where we can expand our outreach together.”
Beyond its contributions to the county, the aid from the grant will directly impact Wabash students. Strader will offer a new course focused on leadership in the arts that will tangibly incorporate cooperation with Montgomery County into the course. Additionally, Associate Professor of Art Matt Weedman will make changes to the Photography course this semester by partnering with local institutions. The alterations will include students working with nearby clients including the Carnegie Museum to produce photos.
“They have to go through the process of meeting with these places and as clients to see what it is that they need,” said Weedman. “They will discuss what they need and how they will get things done in groupsand just go through the process ofproviding the service.”
The Art Department will also expand the Artist in Residence program. The changes will allow students to diversify their perspectivesby meeting more artists and participating in a variety of workshops.
“Building community engagementinto both new and existing coursesallows us to adapt and expand ourofferings as new opportunities andneeds emerge,” said Strader. “Wewill be shifting our AIR program tohave on average three artists visitper year for 1-3 weeks each for fully engaged residencies doing workshops and providing gallery toursand getting out into the community.”
Through the Lilly Endowment Incorporated, the READI grant, willequip the Art Department to be moreinvolved than ever in students’ livesand in the metropolitan area. Theelevated support will ultimately expand the offerings within art coursesand entice more collaboration withthe county.