About Us
What is GRAC?
The Gateway Regional Arts Center (GRAC) is a multicultural center in between the Central and Eastern regions of Kentucky. It is located in Mount Sterling, Kentucky, and offers a variety of programs and services for people of all ages and backgrounds.
The GRAC has three main components:
Academy: The Academy offers classes in every area of the arts, including dance, music, theater, and visual arts. Classes are taught by experienced and qualified instructors, and students of all levels are welcome.
Events: The GRAC hosts a variety of cultural events throughout the year, including art galleries, musical performances, plays, children's events, and many others. These events are open to the public and provide an opportunity for people to experience the arts firsthand, some dipping their toes in the arts for the first time.
Institute: The Institute provides support and guidance to artists and arts organizations in the region. It offers a variety of resources, including academic papers, practical how-to guides, and affordable project consultations and workshops for small-to-medium sized cultural institutions in rural areas.
The GRAC is committed to making the arts accessible to everyone. It offers a variety of affordable programs and services. Our motto is “All the Arts for All the People.”
The GRAC is a vital part of the cultural landscape of the Gateway Region of Kentucky. It provides a variety of opportunities for people to learn about and experience the arts. The GRAC also plays an important role in supporting the work of artists and arts organizations in the region.
Our Mission
The mission of the Montgomery County Council for the Arts, Gateway Regional Arts Center, is to promote, enhance, and contribute to the educational, artistic, and cultural lives of those living in Central and Eastern Kentucky.
The Council will serve as a resource and a supportive agency for artists and organizations contributing to the cultural climate of our community.
Our Values
Promoting art experiences as essential components of individual growth and community life
Providing a welcoming environment for people of all ages and backgrounds to share in making and appreciating art
Adapting our programs and services as the needs of our community change
Ensuring fiscal responsibility and financial sustainability
Maintaining an organizational culture in which all staff and volunteers are respected, valued, and recognized
Our History
A rich legacy of arts & culture in Small Town America
Founded in 1991, the non-profit Montgomery County Council for the Arts is dedicated to promoting the arts and artists in Mt. Sterling and surrounding communities through programs and opportunities at its Gateway Regional Arts Center. It is supported by state and federal funding from the Kentucky Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts as well as donations from friends of the arts.
We have grown from a simple storefront gallery in 1997 to a 12,000 square foot multicultural center supported by dedicated membership of more than 300 individuals. The uniquely transformed building that has been a part of Mt. Sterling for generations as the former First United Methodist Church and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With the support of local and state government agencies, the Montgomery County Council for the Arts purchased the building in 2002 and began an ambitious $1.3 million renovation that was made possible with federal and state grants and the generosity of many local businesses and individuals.
It formally opened on September 19, 2009.
This mosaic, with the 2003 Governor’s Award in the Arts sculpture as its centerpiece, is found in the vestibule of the Gateway Regional Arts Center.
The resulting three-floor arts center now provides a large public performance hall, art gallery, gift shop, arts resource library, visual arts classrooms, music rehearsal rooms, artists studio space, offices and basement which includes a small performance cafe, dressing rooms and additional classrooms.
Throughout the year, the Gateway Regional Arts Center provides monthly art shows in its gallery, as well as a variety of offerings in music, theater, and other visual arts.
A Leading Organization for Arts & Culture in Kentucky
The Gateway Regional Arts Center has long been recognized for its distinct contributions to the rich cultural heritage of the Gateway region.
In 2003, the Montgomery County Council for the Arts was awarded the prestigious Governor’s Award in the Arts. Receiving the Community Arts Award, MCCA joined a short list of renowned cultural institutions in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
To read the full feature on MCCA from the Governor’s Awards Banquet, click here.
