Local art group receives grant to fund displays in city storefronts
Published 10:24 am Thursday, October 3, 2019
Star Photo/ Kevin Green Some of the art on display at 600 Elk Ave. as part of the Artists in Store Fronts project of the Elizabethton Arts and Alliance. The group received a grant to fund the project.
Star Photo/ Kevin Green Another view of the art on display at 600 Elk Ave.
In a city where music is the biggest art form many will ever get to experience, there is one group of art enthusiasts that hope to bridge the gap between audio and visual works for people who may have otherwise never been exposed to the forms of expression that are enjoyed with the eye.
City residents will be seeing art displays along Elk Avenue all through the month of October thanks to a grant that was received by the Elizabethton Arts and Cultural Alliance.
The $1400 grant came from the Tennessee Arts Commission’s Arts Build Communities (ABC) to fund EACA’s presentation of Artists in Store Fronts.
The commission’s ABC program and grants that come from it was established to address the under served members of the community who would otherwise never be exposed to art — especially visual works.
The placing of art in store windows was EACA’s project idea that was presented to the commission, and one that won out over some stiff competition from similar art groups in different cities.
“There are store fronts that needed some attention, and it makes downtown more presentable,” EACA President Robert Benfield said. “There were four projects that we had in mind when we applied. We were hoping that we were a viable candidate and would get the grant.”
The storefronts that have been currently selected to host art in their windows are at 600 and 530 East Elk Ave.
Benfield said that the project would also help the EACA because some of the art is for sale, and that revenue would go to fund other activities planned by the art appreciation group.
While most of the art is for sale, there will be some pieces that are going to be reserved for an auction, and the proceeds generated will go to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Currently there is no specific date or venue for the auction.
More information, such as artist information and pricing, can be obtained about the Elk Avenue art event by calling EACA at 423-707-2390. General information about EACA and their current projects can be found at the organization’s website www.elizalliance.org.
