Arts gallery collaboration to join square for First Fridays, Saturdays

Putnam County Comprehensive Services (PCCS) in partnership with the Greencastle Arts Council, the Putnam County Convention and Visitors Bureau (PCCVB) will have an art gallery open during first Fridays and the Farmers Market Saturdays on the first Saturday of every month from May through October.

Joe Buser, local United Way executive director, introduced Andrew Ranck, executive director of PCCS, to PCCVB Executive Director Nancy Mark, with the idea that the bureau may be willing to share its downtown location for the purpose of providing a monthly pop-up gallery in the lobby and adjacent pocket park of the bureau.

Kit Newkirk, Arts Council Board member and PCCVB board member, joined the discussion to help increase the potential artists that may want to display with PCCS.

PCCS began an art program in December for the individuals it serves in both Greencastle and Greenwood. With more than 300 original art works and more than 100 prints already created, Ranck and art program director Meghan Armitage knew they needed a venue to display and sell the art. They knew the rent and operating costs of the gallery would be too much for the not-for-profit to cover on its own and still be able to pay the artists for their works.

The PCCVB Board agreed to allow PCCS and the Art Council to share the space monthly, which includes the storefront windows and pocket park next door.

“This is an absolutely beautiful example of community inclusiveness that the people we serve desire and deserve,” Ranck said. “Being able to show their art next to people who are professional artists will really build the self-esteem and self-assuredness of our artists. Our artists have already been successful with the sales we have conducted out of agency, but having a larger audience that First Fridays and the Farmers Market provide will certainly increase community awareness of the talent we have in Putnam County and the other counties we serve, and will certainly increase the income potential for all artists as well.”

PCCVB’s Mark is excited about having more people come through the doors of the bureau, which will provide additional promotion of Putnam County to a larger audience.

“This collaboration of nonprofit groups started with a chance meeting; as the concept was discussed, the pieces just fell into place,” she said. “We’re all thrilled to see this happening, and look forward to opening day.”

The Arts Council sees the benefit of providing a venue for local artists as well, but couldn’t have done it alone. All three parties in the collaboration also see a benefit to the community through further expansion of what the town square is working to become, a destination for food, entertainment and community connectedness.

Opening on the south side of the square will allow the Farmers Market and First Fridays a way to grow their footprint as well, and give attention to the other businesses on that side of the square. Conspire, the antique store and the Game Warehouse will hopefully see an uptick in foot traffic.

Thanks to the Putnam County Community Foundation, gallery accessories have been provided through a grant for PCCS’s program, which has taken on the business name of Green Light Art Studios.

PCCS will provide the staffing of the gallery in exchange for a rent-free space. In addition, PCCS will be helping update the restroom facilities of the bureau to make them handicapped accessible and ADA compliant.

The Arts Council will provide a space for local artists to rotate in and out of the gallery, and allow them to highlight a variety of the local talent in Putnam County.