While Louisville has a thriving arts community, access to the arts is often limited geographically and financially. The COLLIDER provides free art experiences to an area of town that typically does not offer them. Each month features a new artist - past participants have included visual artists, sound designers, writers, spoken word artists, dancers, and more - working regular studio hours in the library's studio and offering a minimum of three workshops each month.

Artists featured are professionals and are paid a monthly stipend for their tenure. The studio space, supplies, and stipend were funded by the councilwoman whose district includes this library. Artists are selected through an application and interview process conducted by members of the library's staff and the community. Diversity of the types of arts and artists represented is a key component of this program. Ability to teach and articulate their artistic process is a must.

Since the COLLIDER opened late last summer, the South Central Regional Library has hosted 11 artists working more than 600 hours and presenting more than 40 public workshops. The program has made innovative and interactive arts education accessible to hundreds of adults, teens, children, and families in the community. And as we near the completion of year one, LFPL is thrilled to have recently secured funding for an additional two years.