An eastern Kentucky facility has announced a new pricing model for their arts and cultural education courses. The Gateway Regional Arts Center’s (GRAC) ‘Arts for All’ system is designed to offer affordable rates to qualifying families and individuals, as well as to offer patrons a chance to contribute extra.
People can choose to pay a price that works best for their needs and current situation. The three tiers are a reduced fee called the scholarship level, regular ticket price, or supporter level, which integrates an additional donation to the GRAC.
Jordan Campbell, Director of the GRAC, said patrons choose what price they pay when they buy an event ticket. The process doesn’t require anyone to disclose their income or prove financial need, and Campbell said that’s by design.
“That was the first thing, was, let’s take away any barrier that would be in place that would prohibit you from wanting to come see a show or take part in a workshop,” said Campbell. “Removing the barrier of you have to show your finances or you have to show any justification that you deserve this.”
He said many common obstacles keep creative people across eastern Kentucky from immersing themselves in the arts.
“Making any barrier, whatever that might be- whether that be physical distance in a rural area, whether that is the price to get admitted to an event. Whatever that barrier is, equity to us is really removing that barrier,” said Campbell.
Campbell added the GRAC is the last working cultural arts center for 100 miles southeast of Mount Sterling, the center’s home, and he hopes to bring more services to those areas in the future.
GRAC events using this pricing model will have an ‘Arts for All’ logo on the advertisement. More information on the model and upcoming events is at the GRAC website.