Open Doors Program
Art with purpose for our community, by the community

See photos of Open Doors Projects

The Open Doors program was founded in 1989 with financial support from the Junior League of Louisville.  It is an umbrella program of classes and art enrichment experiences designed to give a voice to under-served populations including the at-risk youth, refugees and immigrants, senior citizens, victims of domestic abuse and more.  Our projects are designed to pair local professional artists with groups who have limited access to the visual arts to collaborate in creating works of self-expression.  Projects are tailored to meet specific needs of each population and serve to enrich not only the individual participant, but the community as a whole. 

Artists who lead our programs are passionate about facilitating the realization of creative talent and offering tangible tools for communication, engagement, leadership and positive change.  The program utilizes the visual arts for:

• Building confidence and leadership skills in at-risk youth
• Raising public awareness by creating meaningful dialogue about a myriad of social issues facing program participants
• Serving as a creative outlet for abused, neglected or otherwise traumatized individuals
• Historically documenting powerful stories
• Neighborhood beautification
• Commemorating community leaders and important events
• Reintegrating the visual arts in education and social activism
• Establishing new relationships through project specific collaboration between participants and community leaders

Program artists (click names to see bios):

Tina Bernstein
Suzy Hatcher
Clare Hirn
Laura Malbasa
Ted Nathanson
Al & Penny Nelson
Guy Tedesco
William Wallace
Terry Wunderlich
Mary Yates

Click here for a list of Open Doors sites.

To discuss the creation of a project for your organization or community, please contact:

Aron Conaway
Open Doors Program Manager
aron@louisvillevisualart.org
502-896-2146 x107

Read Aron's Bio