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    • Who We Are

    Who we are

    The Louisville Art Association (”LAA”) is a non-profit corporation, with over 300 participating and honorary members. Our main purposes include:

    What are the benefits of Membership?

    We invite all interested artists and art appreciators to join us. Member benefits include:

    What are LAA’s annual events?

    The annual events of the LAA include:

    What is LAA’s history?

    The Louisville Art Association was founded September 11, 1980. The Louisville City Parks and Recreation Department agreed to sponsor the LAA and provide a place for shows and meetings. The Louisville City Hall or the Louisville Senior Center (now the Louisville Center for the Arts) was used until the Louisville Recreation Center was built and the Senior Center moved to that location. At that time, the Louisville Art Association asked for the building and was granted a joint lease which included office space for the newly founded Arts and Humanities Council appointed by Mayor Herm Fauson. The building was then named the Louisville Center for the Arts and was to be all inclusive of all the art groups using the building. The Louisville Center for the Arts building was renovated in 1997 during the term of Mayor Tom Davidson. The cupola was added in 2004, during the term of Mayor Chuck Sisk, thus completing the renovation. It is now one of the most outstanding fine-art and performing art centers in the area.

    There were 16 charter members of the �Louisville Arts & Crafts Association� (now The Louisville Art Association) F.W. Barday, Lorraine Bryan, Betty Buffo, Theresa Cline, sue Coloabello, Carolyn Cunningham, Russ Cunningham, Hazel Davidson, Patt Diekman, Judy Cook, Elizabeth Fill, Carole Hill, Annette E. Horner, Carolyn Markham, Norbert Meier (the Mayor at that time), Ruth Pendergrast, Trish Sargent, Dorothy Woodbury and Ray Woodbury. Carolyn Markham and Carole Hill are the only remaining members of the LAA. The Holiday Extravaganza (a prior craft show started in 1976) was the first event sponsored by the new association and continued for another 12 years. The LAA grew in membership to about 90 with the Member’s Show, Craft Shows, and the National Fine Arts Festival, among others. But, after a major staff layoff of employees in the area, membership dropped to about 30. The Boulder County Tier III, SCFD (Scientific & Cultural Facilities District) began it’s annual funding for the Louisville Art Association in 1989 which resulted in the continual growth of both membership and programming. The Louisville Art Association celebrates it’s 25th Anniversary this year.

    In 2005, the Louisville Art Association Membership (participating, scholarship, promotional and complimentary) rose to over 320. The annual events included the Young Artists Traveling Art Show (for ages 4 - 18); The Tactile and Art Challenge Show (touchable art for the visually impaired and art by physically and mentally impaired artists); The Taste of Louisville; The National/Regional Juried Photography Show; The July 4th Arts and Crafts in the Park; The National Juried Fine Art Festiva;, The Three Day Labor Day Craft Fair; The Fall Members Show and The Young Artist’s Exhibit, which includes work from the area school children.

    The Louisville Art Association also provides members with a monthly newsletter, meetings, artist demonstrations, workshops and classes by well known national and local artists, and the opportunity to display their work in local business and government offices at no expense to either the artist or the organization. But, the most important benefit, is the chance for Louisville Art Association Artists, Friends and Community to get together and exchange ideas that further develop their artistic enjoyment and understanding. For instance, in 2001, Albert Handel and Anita Louise West did a National Workshop at the Louisville Center for the Arts for a week in August. Artists from all over the United States attended. In 2002, Nancy Reynor, the national representative for Golden Acrylic Products, did a demonstration and workshop in May at the Louisville Center for the Arts. And the talented Artist who won �Best of Show� in 2001 in the Louisville Art Association’s National Juried Fine Arts Festival went on to win “Best of Show” in the American Artist Magazine. In 2005, nationally noted artists Bruce Gomez and Diane Woods did demonstrations for LAA and donated their paintings to use as fundraisers for the organization. Patti Shunk of the Art Affaire donated the framing materials and framing.

    In 1992, The Louisville Art Association became a 501 (c) (3) Non Profit Corporation with a purpose statement which states: The Louisville Art Association has been formed to assist and promote the advancement of visual arts in Louisville, Colorado and the nation: to encourage greater appreciation and knowledge of the visual arts by integrating visual arts activities into the mainstream of cultural activities in the community served by the LAA: to sponsor art shows, exhibits, competitions, workshops and seminars, for both members and non-members: to engage in other activities permitted buy nonprofit corporations under the laws of the State of Colorado and Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Louisville Art Association is sponsored in part by in-kind contributions by the City of Louisville.

    Phyllis Reed & Carolyn Markham

    The LAA is partially funded by the Scientific and Cultural Funding District (SCFD), which receives its funding from state taxes.