Carnegie Heritage, Arts Center scheduled to open May 16

The Carnegie Heritage and Arts Center of Greene County will host its grand opening May 16.

The event is slated for 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. and will also include the opening of the art gallery and history museum.

Donna Kluesner, president of the arts center board, explained, "Our whole goal was to make the building available for the community. That has been our goal all along to preserve the building."

The center offers fine art classes, music lessons, history and writing classes and is also housed in the former Margaret Cooper Library building -- which was built in 1908 and is an historical landmark that's on the state and national registry.

"We've got big plans for the building. It's a real gem for our county to have this building," Kluesner said.

But in order to make the dream a reality it's taken time and effort.

"It's been a long road, but it's been a good road," Kluesner added. "We've been able to meet a lot of good people and see the community come together and make this happen."

The grand opening will also allow for locals to sign up for classes and share feedback and ideas for the center.

"We want to know what kind of classes people are interested in. That way we can gear classes toward what people want," she added.

The event will also include the live acoustical sounds of local finger-style guitarist Kade Puckett as well as the displayed work of several local artists.

The artwork of both the late Father Hilary Vieck and the late Dale French will be on display, Kluesner noted.

"We are also hoping to have the potter's wheel on display as well as the Phil Harris exhibit," she added.

"Carnegie will be a county-wide art gallery and history museum," states a press release from the center. "We are a non-profit group supported by the donations and volunteer labor of our community."

The center is located at 110 East Vincennes St. in Linton.

"Please join us for a day of celebration and music as we herald a new era of use for our 100-year old historic Carnegie," the press release also states.