Power of Good

PowerofGood.com | Winter 2014 13 the 43 years of cultural art history we are a part of." With donations from the Alabama Power Foundation and other business- es, the Kentuck Arts Center will feature an expanded gallery exhibit space on the first floor along with a gift shop and courtyard, all handicapped accessible. "We want to connect the artist with the community. We are recognized throughout the Southeast and want our new space to reflect our artists and reputation," Echols said. Even the gallery gift shop serves the artists, with 90 percent of the proceeds going back to the artists when their pieces are sold. Upstairs, the building will feature an office space, a conference room and a work- room. "In our entire 43 years, we've never had an office with walls and doors. We're excited to have a space for our board to meet and for our organiza- tion to grow," Echols said. Kentuck's reach expands further than its physical build- ing. The organization is making an impact in the lives of artists every day. Offering studio space for five artists, Kentuck provides a unique resource to the art commu- nity by giving artists a space to work and sell their art. Kerry Kennedy is one of the resident artists at Kentuck, having attended the Kentuck Festival since she was 7 years old. "Kentuck showed me that this was a lifestyle that is possible. They are the main reason I felt brave enough to jump into business as an artist," said Kennedy. Kennedy, a potter, is a member of Kentuck's clay co-op, an outreach that provides a space and equipment for potters of all levels. The Kentuck Art Festival is renowned throughout the country, at- tracting artists from as far as Portland, Ore. The annual festival draws more than 15,000 people, and the Alabama Power Service Organization has long been a supporter, providing volunteers for the event. "I would be remiss if I did not thank Alabama Power Company for the countless man-hours that its employees provide for our festival each year," Echols said. "With only four full-time paid staff members, we rely heavily on the hundreds of volunteers needed to successfully stage this event," Echols. Whether through art festivals, investing in individual artists, provid- ing classes or monthly art community gatherings, Kentuck's impact across the state, and even the Southeast, is being felt. "We are enabling artists to do their calling for a living and sharing it with the community," Echols said. "That is what keeps us motivated and bal- anced." classrooms viable and effective learning tools," he said. The Alabama Power Foundation's history of supporting AWF's conservation education efforts dates back to 1994, when the board established a plan to elevate conservation education to priority status. The plan led to the development of AWF's Discover- ing Our Heritage Program and the Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program, which received a seed grant from the Alabama Power Foundation, and inspired AWF to construct the Alabama Nature Center. The center is a planned-use outdoor education facility offering hands-on, outdoor-based educational programs and activities for students, educators, church and civic groups, and the general public. Phase I of the center opened in 2007, which included the pavilion and the trail system. Over 130,000 visitors have been to the center. Gothard, Bowden and the AWF board of directors be- lieve the NaturePlex will expand AWF's educational impact. The board expects NaturePlex will increase visitation by 50 percent, meaning close to 275,000 visitors will have the op- portunity to become stewards of Alabama's natural resources. "NaturePlex is an extension of the Alabama Power Foun- dation efforts and its continuous investment in conservation education through schools, teachers and students across the state," Gothard said. STUDENTS continued from 11 Volunteers set up the 43rd Kentuck Festival of Arts.

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