I display shows some of the books that artists may read for this summer’s Smart Reads program.
Jacob Espinosa | The Lima News
LIMA —A $7,500 donation to ArtSpace/Lima will go toward the gallery’s Smart Reads program.
Executive director of ArtSpace Sally Windle said the program does not have dates finalized yet, but five artists are set to participate at five different locations.
“We like to engage them in activities here, but this donation will go to Smart Reads, which is a new program for kids and adults to go to the park and have an artist read a story about a famous artist when they were young,” she said. “And then they’ll do an activity that is in line with what the artist had done and get to keep the books. We’re excited about the artists working with kids and having some summer activities of creativity.”
Communications manager for Cenovus, Heather Rutz, said it was important to present the check for a cause that aligns with community focus areas.
“We’re certainly interested in helping you people prepare for whatever is next,” she said. “And we know that whether someone is going to work for us at the refinery or whatever career, they’re going to take advantage of a program like this which is fostering literacy and creativity and will help them down the road. We’re just really pleased to be a part of it.”
Windle said ArtSpace will announce the schedule on its website June 20 and that the idea has been in the works for a while.
“It just came about as something that not only is exciting for kids, but is also an activity,” she said. “It’s also a way to get kids to keep that book and continue to read and share it with others.”
She also said Cenovus provided a good example of what it looks like for private companies to invest in the community.
“The fact that they have a history here when they saw 35 years ago that this was a place where they wanted to invest in artists flourishing and practicing was pretty important,” Windle said. “That it is going to arts and is part of creativity and problem-solving is important, too. And they understand that.”
For more information on ArtSpace and to stay up to date on its schedule visit artspacelima.com.
Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-099.
