Athens, Ohio
Athens sits in the deep southeastern corner of Ohio, about an hour from Kentucky and an hour from West Virginia. Its relatively isolated location means “people tend to express themselves in very different ways here, and from that has come some grassroots organizations that do significant work in the arts,” said Paige Alost, executive director of the Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The Dairy Barn Arts Center is housed in a massive 1914 barn that was owned by the Athens Asylum for the Insane. Groups can explore the center’s rotating exhibits, arrange for an artist demonstration or take classes in photography, ceramics, beadwork, felting and quilting, and they can even take their artwork home with them.
Today, Ohio University owns the former asylum complex, known as The Ridges, and the historic buildings house classrooms, offices and the Kennedy Museum of Art. Admission is free, and a visit there is extra special because it’s one of the only ways to get into the main part of the historic asylum building, Alost said.
At the Passion Works Studio, the artists-in-residence are adults with developmental disabilities who produce a signature craft: the Passion Flower. Groups can opt to paint the large, sculptural flowers made from recycled aluminum themselves or watch the artists at work.
Lawrence, Indiana
As home to the University of Kansas, Lawrence is a city that naturally attracts creative people, “but we also have organizations that work hard to keep the arts alive here,” said Andrea Johnson, director of marketing and communications for Explore Lawrence.
The Lawrence Arts Center was established in 1974 and today is a regional center for visual and performing arts, exhibitions, film and lectures. In 2002, the center opened in its modern 40,000-square-foot downtown facility that includes studio, gallery and performance space. Groups can explore exhibits, and the center’s adult education program features a wide range of classes in both visual and performing arts — such as pottery-making and printmaking, ballet and ballroom dancing — that could be tailored to visiting groups.
The Warehouse Arts District in East Lawrence is a hub of galleries, studios and restaurants all housed in historic converted warehouses. The district is only a few blocks from downtown, which makes it easy to explore both areas during the monthly Final Fridays Art Walks.
On the KU campus, the Spencer Museum of Art is free and offers guided tours for groups of five or more.
