Abandoned prairie schools as art center

A lot of shorter entries the past few weeks. I go in cycles like this, if you haven’t noticed, between longer more ponderous posts and shorter newsy items.

My wife is all excited this week about a spinning (as in yarn-making) retreat in tiny Harveyville, Kansas, about 45 minutes southeast of Topeka. The host of this retreat is something called The Harveyville Project, which appears to be a two-person operation that includes four buildings: Harveyville Rural High School (1939), Harveyville Grade School (1954), Rural Dist. 5 Eskridge High School (1920), and Eskridge Grade School (1921). From the Project’s website:

Our overriding purpose is to provide an inspiring, energizing environment to foster creative output. Initially, we’ll focus on residents and small workshops and community projects.

Our residence programs range from two weeks to six months and cover living/studio space, utilities, and dinner. Try a short recharge to get past a creative or procrastination bottleneck, or take several months to concentrate on a major project or thesis. By removing your accustomed distractions (shopping, traffic, social commitments, work routine), you can unclutter your mind and focus more directly on your craft. We invite artists, writers, musicians, and craftsmen, both student and professional.

Stellar idea, turning abandoned country schools (likely victims of consolidation) into a retreat for artists. It’s also another potential venue for the faith-based (Christian) art center I have in mind. I’m guessing there aren’t too many vacant school buildings on the prairie, but there are some, apparently.

Screenshot taken from The Harveyville Project’s website.

Previous entries talking about a faith-based art retreat:
Christian art center downtown?
Faith, art and barns
Art, faith, missions and a retreat