Paducah School of Art and Design is one step closer to the construction phase of the Kitchens’ building in Lowertown.
Gov. Steve Beshear’s line item veto on the state’s budget assures West Kentucky Community and Technical College can use bonding to fund the project.
West Kentucky Community and Technical College president Dr. Barbara Veazey said a quarter of that $10 million is to be raised locally.
“We would be able to complete the Kitchens facility,” she said. “We would be able to have a full compliment of an art program in Lowertown. More or less, creating an arts campus in the heart of the arts district.”
PSAD began in 2008 after community members urged WKCTC to start an art school because of the success of the Artist Relocation Program. Lowertown was chosen over the main campus because it is part of the Historic Arts District.
The Kitchens location was put on hold after the 2008 economic collapse, but the college continued to develop the school. Madison Hall was purchased for ceramics classes. Sculpture was added to the program leading to construction of an addition that will open in the fall.
Veazey said she hopes the Kitchens location will be open for students in the fall of 2015. She added that building renovations can start as early as August.
In order to fund the PSAD building, students will pay an additional $4 per credit hour next year and up to $8 the following year. Veazey said the fees were looked at as a way for the students to participate in the construction.
WKCTC is the only college in KCTCS to offer an Associate in Fine Arts degree in Visual Arts in the state. 450 students are currently taking art classes at PSAD.
