BROWN COUNTY ART AND ARTISTS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT: “Brown County Art and Artists” is a documentary film series about a Collection of award-winning paintings created by today’s Hoosier artists. The 24-piece Collection—ever growing—is owned by Indiana Heritage Arts (IHA), a non-profit art organization. Paintings are hung in three public buildings. The Collection includes works of art purchased by IHA from its annual exhibitions. IHA, an all-volunteer organization, will celebrate 45 years in 2023.
WHO: Indiana filmmaker Patrick Petro and longtime IHA board member Letty Newkirk teamed up to create the documentary series. The film project is financially independent but mentored by IHA.
WHY: To preserve today’s important visual art works, to encourage artists to follow their passion, to remember the story of Brown County as an early art center, and to share the special IHA Permanent Collection with everyone for free.
WHEN: “Brown County Art and Artists” project began in early 2020 with the filming of three artists on location in their studios. The artists, whose paintings are in the Collection, represent the larger group of 24 artists. Film editing is underway. Completion is targeted for early 2023.
WHERE: The project’s home is Nashville, IN, where IHA and its member artists have a gallery space in the Brown County Art Gallery, located at 1 Artist Drive in Nashville.
HOW: Donations and grants from the Indiana Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Brown County Community Foundation have made “Brown County Art and Artists” a reality. More donations are needed to complete film editing and distribute the films online, in homes, for schools and organizations—wherever people gather. And for free!
VISION: The goal is reach a wide range of audiences through an extensive marketing and publicity campaign including Brown County and, later, all counties in south-central Indiana. The future will include a volunteer board, more films of artists, an education project based on the films, and materials for presentation in the classroom with a teacher’s guide. Possibilities are a multi-county interactive culture-based website of events and art opportunities and a loyal and enthusiastic donor base who share the vision: Art is for everyone, everywhere.