The Living Arts and Science Center (LASC) is a non-profit organization located in Lexington, KY that has been providing arts and science education to the community for 50 years. It reaches over 40,000 people annually through hundreds of classes, workshops, field trips, and community events. LASC is dedicated to making the arts and sciences accessible to all through hands-on learning experiences. It serves people of all backgrounds and ages in Lexington and across Central Kentucky.

1. LASC
Living Arts and Science
Center
Presented by
Charlie Eckmann

2. Background
 LASC is a non-profit organization
 “Founded in 1968 by a handful of parents operating out of the trunk
of a car”
 Located in downtown Lexington, 362 N. Martin Luther King Blvd.
Lexington, KY 40508
 Focuses on offering unique learning experiences with emphasis on
creativity and active participation
 Features connections between arts and sciences

3. LASC today
 Celebrating 50 years of community engagement
 Currently reaches over 40,000 Kentuckians yearly
 Offers over 400 classes and workshops yearly from toddlers to adults
 Provides participatory field trips for over 6,000 students yearly
 Hosts monthly Discovery Nights programs
 Participates in community arts projects
 Offers many free and low-cost family events
 Provides on-going free art classes for thousands of at-risk, special needs and
underserved children, teens and adults
 Houses the Glo Gallery which hosts several yearly local artist exhibitions

4. LASC – a focus on participatory media
and outreach
 “The LASC is dedicated to making the arts and
science — especially PARTICIPATION in these
disciplines — accessible to all. LASC programming
is offered at our downtown Lexington location as
well as in schools, community centers, libraries,
hospitals, parks and other facilities throughout
the commonwealth.”

5. LASC Mission
 “Our mission is accomplished through hands-on and
interactive instruction in arts and science directly from
professional educators and active artists and scientists.
Activities include collaborative experiences for the
community, educational programs in schools, community
centers, and other venues as well as free programming for
all members of the Central Kentucky community. The LASC
also offers education tailored to special needs, at risk and
underserved children and adults. The staff and board of
directors support this mission through maintaining high
ethical standards and efficient oversight of the LASC.”

6. Core Values of LASC
 Lifelong Learning: The LASC believes that people of all ages deserve
accessible opportunities to learn and to be creative.
 Community Outreach: The LASC believes that the community is stronger
through opportunities for citizens to work, create and learn together.
 Diversity in Service: The LASC believes that all of its representatives, staff,
programs and services should respect all people equally without regard to
race, creed, color, financial status, sexual orientation, gender, age, religion,
disability or nationality.
 Accountability and Transparency: The LASC believes in honoring the
community’s trust through accountability and transparency of our programs
and services.
 Interactivity: The LASC believes in participation and interactivity and will
strive to fully engage the staff, board of directors and community at-large.

7. Who does LASC serve?
 All who are interested and would like to take part
 Local community including all of Lexington, KY
 Central Kentucky community
 University of Kentucky students/faculty with an undergraduate student
population around 22,500
 Underserved populations
 Special needs populations
 At-risk populations

8. What LASC means to the community
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXJn_rin_3A

9. How to reach or follow LASC
 https://lasclex.org
 https://twitter.com/livingart
 https://www.facebook.com/lasclex
 https://www.instagram.com/lasclex/

10. Interview with Gallery Director
 Jeffrey Nichols (Ceramic/Glass/Metal Artist)
 Education: University of Illinois of Urbana-Champaign/Art & Industrial Design
 Previously represented in 14 galleries nationally
 Worked with world renown artists including Dale Chihuly (glass artist)
 Brings background of artist, educator, and community member

11. How does LASC build and/or strengthen the
community?
 Provides community outreach through programming and events
 Brings together people of different backgrounds
 Offers many free and open to the public events
 Provides collaborative experiences for the community
 Features programming for all ages
 Takes educational programming to the community through mobile
exhibits/programs
 Creates and encourages participatory exhibits for all art and science exhibits

12. Evidence of Effectiveness in fulfilling
mission through use of media
 Allows us to “get the word out”
 Growth of community outreach projects
 Day of the Dead Festival has grown each year and last year touched 5000
people - teaches us about other cultures and how to celebrate life
 Collaboration with community and social service programs continue to expand

13. What forms of media do you view as the most
effective?
 Postcards connect people to the artists and events
 Mailing lists continue to grow – use excel to create listservs for different event types
 Local TV and radio stations cover major events such as Day of the Dead Festival and Family
Fun Day

14. Biggest barriers and challenges
 Budgets/funding (see upcoming fundraising community event below)
 Bringing in outside artists and educators on a small budget
 LASC relies on contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations, and
public agencies to support its programs
 Often labeled as organization only for kids
A dazzling celebration of art and science education!
Join us at the place where creativity grows for a
magical evening of food, friends and fun. Enjoy
Lexington’s best art auction, live and silent auctions,
live music, dinner and spirits and artful surprises.
Saturday, April 27th 7-11pm
Tickets $100 / $125 after April 15th
Reserved table for 8, $1000

15. Reflection
What is working for LASC’s media strategy?
 Strong commitment to expanding community engagement
 Hired full-time marketing director
 Recently completed at $5 million expansion/renovation
 Recently rebranded LASC with a new logo and website
What is not working for LASC’s media strategy?
 Expanding audience to more adults
 Expanding collaboration with high school and college students
Suggestions for improvement
 Include more adults in pictures/videos in marketing material
 Expand distribution of postcard announcements to more public places such as
pharmacies, pediatrician offices, retirement communities

16. References
 https://lasclex.org
 Bernard, Nick. (2016, November 2). Living Arts and Science Center Case for
Support. [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXJn_rin_3A.