Our Purpose & Impact
The Hoyt Arts Center was founded in 1965 by a small group of visual artists who wanted to develop and showcase local talent. Today, we have become the primary resource for arts and culture in Lawrence County, serving more than 20,000 people annually. Over the past 60 years, we have showcased the work of influential artists and renowned craftspeople from Romare Bearden, Robert Motherwell, and Wolf Kahn to Eva Zeisel, Ed Eberle, and Daniel Rhodes, broadening the community’s access to the artists shaping the creative movements of our time. Through our permanent collection, exhibitions, arts programming, and special events, we offer opportunities to experience, learn, practice, and enjoy the arts.
Our Mission
“To expand and enrich the life of the community through participation in the arts.”
Our Purpose
We believe everyone should have access to arts and culture experiences. When we open our doors, we open them wide – to all ages, experiences and forms of self-expression. We commit to meeting the community’s evolving needs by deepening our relationships with local residents and supporting artists at all stages of development. Through the arts, we connect our visitors with different cultures, ideas, and time periods, creating a shared understanding and a deeper sense of community. Our programs encourage people to explore new opportunities and discover their own voice, whether they have years of experience in the arts or have never held a paintbrush.
Our Impact
Each year, we connect over 20,000 visitors with art and history through exhibitions, festivals, and classes for all ages. More than 400 creatives participate in our exhibits and competitions each year, and over 800 take part in our educational programs. Up to 75 students per day learn, make, and build their confidence through After School Arts during the school year, and another 250 youth participate in camps over the summer. We are committed to lowering barriers to these transformative arts and culture experiences by offering scholarships for classes and camps, free admission to the Period House for EBT cardholders, and free admission to our galleries for all. We are proud of this impact and are always striving for more.
Our Values
No matter who you are or where you come from, you belong here.
- We are building a culture and community where everyone feels welcome, safe, connected, and valued.
- We strive to improve equitable access to our buildings, programs, and communications by removing as many barriers to participation as possible.
- We invest in our capacity to reach increasingly diverse audiences.
Cultural and artistic experiences are essential for everyone—at every age.
- We offer arts experiences to people of all ages, encouraging curiosity, self-reflection, creativity, and critical thinking.
- We build common ground and sensitivity by featuring a diverse range of cultures and practices through our programming.
- We support artists in all stages of development to foster the potential of creativity and creative careers.
- We facilitate opportunities to experience and engage with the arts beyond our own walls.
Self-expression looks different for everyone.
- We create opportunities for people to find their own voice through arts and cultural experiences.
- We do not limit what creativity should look like—We encourage everyone to explore their own unique expression.
- We are a place for curiosity and individual self-expression, where people can experience joy and fulfillment.
We are responsive to our community as it changes.
- We continually evaluate and adjust our activities, programs, facilities, and the composition of our board and staff to ensure they reflect the needs and interests of our communities.
- We collaborate with other agencies to collect data, conduct research, expand reach, and develop new approaches to support the community’s growth through the arts.
- We steward our assets to ensure that our work will continue.