Laura Elwyn named Executive Director of Art Center of the Bluegrass
Laura Elwyn
Art Center of the Bluegrass board of directors has selected Laura Elwyn as Executive Director after a national search to fill the role. Elwyn has been serving as Acting Executive Director since June and was previously the Danville organization’s Associate Director.
“We know the Art Center will flourish with Laura as the permanent director and with the team we have in place to support her in her new role,” said board chair Mary Conley. “As interim director, Laura has grown exponentially and proven her abilities to carry out our mission to connect all people to art, culture, and creativity.”
Elwyn has been with the Art Center since January 2023 and has been instrumental in an expansion project at the Center that includes the adaptive reuse of a historic downtown building.
“The Art Center has come a long way,” Elwyn said. “We launched our ArtSee Expansion Capital Campaign and now, almost two years later, we have a museum honoring the life and legacy of Danville’s internationally renowned artist Stephen Rolfe Powell, a curated gift gallery featuring local and regional artists, a creative space for all ages to make art, expanded classroom space, and a café serving artful plates featuring local purveyors”.
In 2023, the Art Center successfully secured a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor as a matching challenge. This year, the same donor has offered another challenge, and the Center is currently $100,000 away from guaranteeing another $600,000 match. These funds must be raised by Dec. 31, 2024, in order to secure the donation.
“We have completed Phase I and Phase II of the ArtSee Expansion Project,” Elwyn said. “Phase III fundraising will support the highly-anticipated ballroom, hot glass demonstration studio, and elevator.”
Coming to the Art Center was an opportunity for Elwyn, previously Corporate Guest Experience Manager with 21c Museum Hotels at their Louisville headquarters, to return home to Danville.
“I feel blessed to be leading Art Center of the Bluegrass,” Elwyn said. “The vital work of bringing people together through art, fostering connections, and promoting collaboration within our community is fulfilling in ways I never could have imagined. Guidance from our experienced Board of Directors and support from our committed staff will steer the Art Center toward its goals, influencing its impact, and ensuring long-term success.”
“Laura earnestly seeks to engage and support a vibrant local arts community,” Conley said, “through education, exploration, and experiences as well as create a national destination for glass art.”
Art Center of the Bluegrass has also recently added Sarabeth Graham to the team in the role of Development and Fundraising Director. Sarabeth is a Danville native and returns to the Art Center after obtaining her master’s degree in arts administration from the University of Kentucky.
Sarabeth’s journey in the arts began with a year-long fellowship at the Art Center, which ignited her passion for arts management. Now, she’s eager to share her enthusiasm for the organization with the Danville community in this role.