Hub of Covington Arts District debuts

A crowd estimated at 500 people enjoyed live music, a magician, food and art at the grand opening party for the Covington Artisan's Enterprise Center, the new hub of the Covington Arts District.

"It was the perfect party," says Mary Lyons, manager of the arts district.  "Everybody was thrilled with what they saw."

Architecture and planning firm Kinzelman Kline Gossman purchased the 20,000-square-foot building at 25 W 7th Street in 2006 and, in partnership with the City of Covington, spent nearly $2 million on its rehabilitation.

The building includes gallery space for artist's exhibits, studio space and two large conference rooms.

Lyons says that the conference rooms will be used for classes on copyright law, grant-writing, and marketing to help artists sell their work.

In an effort to use the arts to spur economic development, the Covington Arts District is putting together a national ad campaign selling the district as a great place to live, work, and prosper artistically.

Locally, the arts district has redesigned its website with property listings, an events calendar and articles on featured artists; and is establishing working relationships with such cultural institutions as the Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center, the Baker Hunt Art and Cultural Center, the Behringer-Crawford Museum and the Frank Duveneck Arts & Cultural Center.

Lyons believes that the Covington Artisan's Enterprise Center will establish itself as the anchor of the city's arts community.

"My plan is to serve the artists," she says.  "And to serve the community by getting the arts known."

Writer: Kevin LeMaster
Source: Mary Lyons, manager, Covington Arts District
Art work by Anthony Stenger
Photographs by Scott Beseler