UK Art Museum, Arts Administration Event Beckons Public to 'Pay Attention — Art Matters'

UK "Arts Entrepreneurship" class takes a stab at the Mannequin Challenge while working on details for "Art After Dark."

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 16, 2016) — The University of Kentucky's Art Museum and the Department of Arts Administration are teaming up this fall to present a new artistic, social event. Through this collaboration, the partnership introduces "Art After Dark" to the Bluegrass to familiarize the campus community and Lexington citizens with the city’s perpetually growing art culture. "Art After Dark," which is free and open to the public, will run 6-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, at the museum. The event will also raise awareness for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).

The UK arts administration class known as “Arts Entrepreneurship” has worked this semester to identify an issue at the university's museum and try to brainstorm ways to improve it. These efforts have served as both a project for the class to work on and a real-life event to experience planning.

The class decided to not only use the event to raise awareness for the museum, but also for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS is a muscle disease that affects more than 5,600 people per year. Currently, more than 30,000 people have been diagnosed with ALS in America alone.

What is the connecting point between art and ALS? Lexington-based artist Louis Zoellar Bickett, whose "Saving Myself" exhibition is currently on view at the UK Art Museum, is battling this disease.

"I think the Louis Bickett exhibit is very controversial, yet it speaks to us in different ways. I think his art is very powerful and I hope we all are capable of experiencing it to the fullest," said arts administration senior Ayleia C.K. Marcum, of Ashland, Kentucky, who is the chief financial officer for the project.

"Art After Dark" will include food and drinks, fall festivities, live music and information on the arts and ALS. In addition, members of the Kentucky chapter of the ALS Association will be in attendance and there will be a guided tour by UK Art Museum Director Stuart Horodner. Bickett's exhibition, as well as exhibitions on the presidency and work by James Baker Hall and Mira Schor, will close Nov. 27, at the museum.

The mission of the UK Art Museum, part of the UK College of Fine Arts, is to promote the understanding and appreciation of art to enhance the quality of life for people of Kentucky through collecting, exhibiting, preserving and interpreting outstanding works of visual art from all cultures. Home to a collection of more than 4,800 objects including American and European paintings, drawings, photographs, prints and sculpture, the museum presents both special exhibitions and shows of work from its permanent collection. 

UK Department of Arts Administration, also in the College of Fine Arts, is designed to prepare students for a future in the management of arts organizations. Students are provided with a strong liberal arts education, an understanding of the business world, and a comprehensive education in one of the four arts disciplines of art, music, dance and theatre.