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GADSDEN ARTS, INC., 13 North Madison, Quincy, FL 32351
Contact: GRACE MALOY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
(850) 875-4866, grace@gadsdenarts.com

For Immediate Release

Gadsden Arts Center Receives Knight Foundation Grant

Quincy, FL – The Gadsden Arts Center is proud to announce a recent grant award from the Knight Foundation Donor Advised Fund (KFDAF). This award supports the Center’s efforts to serve the community by improving accessibility to art exhibitions and cultural education for people of all ages.

The KFDAF grant enables Gadsden Arts to invest in some of the latest education and accessibility technologies. A camcorder will be used to record Artist Gallery Talks and other presentations that will then made available "on demand" at the Arts Center on large flat panel monitors and via the Gadsden Arts Center website. A digital microphone will be used to record audio interviews with regional artists, authors, and other cultural leaders. A website visitor will be able to simply click on an artist or author’s photograph to hear the recorded interview. Art exhibitions and the Center’s Permanent Collection will be photographed and entered, along with information about the art, into specially designed database software that presents this information online as a virtual art exhibition, accessible to anyone with a computer and internet connection.

"The technology that Gadsden Arts is putting in place will allow almost anyone anywhere in the world to enjoy our art exhibitions, the region’s artists, authors, and the cultural education opportunities that we offer," said Gadsden Arts Center Director Grace Maloy. "With today’s gas prices, fewer people can visit, and those that visit may come less often. Schools have less money for field trips, and some older people cannot drive at night to hear the Artist Gallery Talks. These technology upgrades will help solve all of those issues. We are very grateful to the Knight Foundation, and in particular, to Alberto Ibargüen, President, Mike Pate, program administrator, and Joy Watkins, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of North Florida, for their support of this project."
Gadsden Arts plans to have all of the technology enhancements up and running by January, with some tools available by next month. The recorded Gallery Talk given by Dean Mitchell and Tim Myrick will be available "on demand" at the Arts Center in early September.

The Gadsden Arts Center is located just 25 minutes from the State Capitol at 13 N. Madison on Quincy’s historic courthouse square. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10 am-5 pm and Sunday 1-5 pm. Public admission $1; members and children admission is free. For more information, call 875-4866 or check the web at www.gadsdenarts.org.

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