Project Summary

This project focuses on the history of the Lexington Living Arts and Science Center and its relationship to the surrounding neighborhood. Established in 1968, the center is a non-profit organization which offers workshops, art exhibits, performances, art programs, field trips, and opportunities for artists and scientists to present their work. This project documents the Living Arts Center's beginnings, including the donation of the Kinkead House for the center in 1981. The Kinkead House was located in a neighborhood established for freed slaves after the Civil War, and remained exclusively African American until 1960. Discussed in detail is the restoration and adaptation of the building for the Arts Center, the various programs the center has offered throughout the years, and how it has served and affected the community in the East End of Lexington.