Owensboro artists and creatives will have a chance to connect, collaborate, and share ideas this Thursday during a special Artist Mixer hosted at the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden. The free event runs from 6-8 p.m. and is open to anyone with a creative spirit, from professionals to hobbyists.
Organized by the Owensboro Arts Team in partnership with the Harwood Institute and the Greater Owensboro Leadership Institute, the mixer is designed to break down barriers within the local arts scene.
“This is something that came directly from what we’ve heard in community conversations,” said Maria Clark, co-lead of the Owensboro Arts Team. “A lot of local artists told us they feel disconnected and isolated. This mixer is our way of helping build those bridges.”
Set in the garden’s gazebo area, the mixer offers a relaxed environment where guests can enjoy light refreshments — pork sliders, chips, and more — while mingling with fellow creatives. But beyond the food and conversation lies a deeper purpose: building a more inclusive and forward-thinking cultural community.
Clark’s team has spent the past year holding listening sessions with nearly 40 Owensboro residents to learn more about their aspirations for the city. While not every conversation centered on the arts, Clark said creativity frequently emerged as a vital tool for progress.
“Our goal is to figure out how we can use the arts to creatively address our community’s concerns — or promote its dreams,” she said. “That means bringing people together who might not normally cross paths, and figuring out how we move forward, together.”
The event also aims to broaden Owensboro’s artistic lens beyond traditional forms like music and painting.
“Installation art, digital media, alternative craft — those things matter too,” Clark said. “And they deserve a platform here.”
Most importantly, Clark emphasized that the event is open to anyone who identifies as creative — regardless of skill level, background, or medium.
“If you like to draw, if you knit, if you paint, or if you’re just someone who thinks in a creative way — you belong,” she said. “It’s not about being a professional. It’s about building a community that values all forms of creativity.”
The Artist Mixer is part of an ongoing initiative to grow a more connected, responsive, and imaginative Owensboro arts scene.
“We want people to know they have the power to shape tomorrow,” Clark said. “Not everything needs to wait for a city ordinance or a committee. As artists and citizens, we can create the future we want — starting now.”
