All in the name of Art

Community meets creativity at the Emporia Arts Council

From Clay Club to Chalk Fest, it’s an everchanging kaleidoscope of the arts at the Emporia Arts Council. With renovations from top to bottom, your experience will be enhanced whether you’re attending a live performance, learning new skills in an art class, or strolling through an art exhibit.

From the moment you enter the dramatic Trusler Gallery space, with its soaring floorto-ceiling windows overlooking the bustle of downtown, you’re in a whole different world. Sometimes it’s children’s art on display, paying homage to artists of the future and opening our eyes to the whimsical, clear-eyed nature of the child artist. Other times it is the pathos of art created by veterans, revealing stories that might otherwise never be told. EAC offers a full schedule of local and regional exhibits, a delight to explore and expand your appreciation of art in all its many forms.

And there’s so much new this year! EAC Executive Director Dawn Young explained that extensive renovations have updated the Davis Theatre to an impeccable theatrical performance venue and state-of-the-art conference and event space. “We are thrilled to welcome visitors to the brand-new Mitchell Family Innovation Lab, too,” Young said. “High tech meets high art here, with accommodations for everything from iPads to digital conferencing and high-speed internet.”

A carefully crafted partnership between the Arts Council and Hetlinger Developmental Services has transformed the Hetlinger Creates Classroom into “a very special space for our friends who are differently abled,” Young continued. “This is truly a labor of love on the part of all those involved in bringing it to fruition.”

The thoughtfully curated Glaser Art Gift Store offers regionally handcrafted items from jewelry and soaps to sculpture and framed art. One-of-a-kind art pieces ensure that your choice will be unique, a treasure you’ll not find anywhere else.

EAC hosts a sumptuous annual array of performing arts, from concerts to comedy, and is home to the long-running Missoula Children’s Theatre every June. The troupe arrives in Emporia with sets, costumes, props, and makeup–everything necessary to put on a show… except for the cast! Local youth experience the excitement of auditions and rehearsals and perform a full-scale musical production for the public.

Art spurs creativity and a sense of adventure, EAC believes. Established in 1976, EAC remains steadfastly true to its mission: “To Educate, to Advocate, and to Celebrate the Arts in Emporia and our seven-county service area.” Specialized art classes led by professionals are offered yearround for all ages in state-of-the-art classrooms, including the Lewis Humphreys Clay Studio.

Adult art education provides opportunities for continued growth, exploration, and new skill development. For many adults, especially those engaged in demanding occupations, art provides a much-needed creative outlet. Art allows people to tap into their imagination, experiment with new ideas, and pursue interests outside their normal daily routines.

Youth art education is just as valuable, crucial to fostering creativity, self-expression, and critical thinking skills. Art projects often require problem-solving skills, such as translating an idea into a tangible piece of art or overcoming technical challenges. Collaborative art projects help children develop important social skills of communication, cooperation, and teamwork.

EAC expands its reach into the community with the Emil Babinger Art Mobile, bringing art and cultural activities to schools, senior facilities, community events, and other locations area-wide, offering art activities for budding artists and art lovers of all ages on-site wherever it travels.

Visit the Emporia Arts Council at 815 Commercial St. in downtown Emporia. The facility is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. See the EAC website at emporiaksarts.org for more information, call them at 620-343-6473, and find them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for even more activities and events.