By: Lylanne Musselman

The Blackford County Arts Center (BCAC) is often overlooked in the community for all the wonderful art, music, and creative writing opportunities it offers. While subjects like art, music, and theatre are often the first programs cut from public schools, BCAC offers a creative haven for budding artists of all ages. Locals often come in and say, “I never realized this place was here!”  

Center director Lylanne Musselman says it’s not for lack of trying. “We post on social media, send flyers to the schools about activities, send press releases to all local newspapers, yet countless people in Blackford County do not know we exist,” she said.

Musselman, a strong advocate of the arts, is a published and award-winning poet, playwright, and visual artist. Additionally, BCAC has exemplary musicians teaching music lessons, including violinist David Blakely, pianists Margaret Hammond and Ann Clamme-Monroe, and guitarist Andy Kern. On the visual arts side, distinguished local artists teach a range of art classes, from watercolor to pottery. Indiana artists exhibit their work year-round in the beautiful gallery space, and those exhibits are free and open to the public, as are the opening receptions at the beginning of each exhibit.  

BCAC came into existence when a local group wanted a place to promote the fine arts to the community. Original board member Leslie Newton said that the current space, which used to be the Hallmark store, became available in 2011, and the owner, Ben Oswalt, was so kind in how he allowed the group to purchase the building. Newton added that Eric Rogers was instrumental in bringing Blackford under Portland’s Arts Place, Inc. umbrella. In 2013, the first art exhibit and opening reception were both attended by a lot of people, who were “thrilled to have a place of culture for the area to utilize and enjoy,” she said. 

Many changes happened last year for the BCAC. Musselman was hired as center director in August 2022 after Amy Day retired. New executive director Carolyn Carducci took the helm of Arts Place, Inc. in late 2022, after Rogers retired. Carducci, like Rogers, is invested in BCAC’s continued growth. Carducci says that BCAC is an important piece of the arts and culture in downtown Hartford City and in Blackford County. “The arts bring people together, ultimately allowing for people to identify with where they are from, where they live, or where they are visiting, she said. “The arts provide economic growth with a greater quality of life to attract new employers and people to the community. More people result in increased foot traffic downtown, benefiting other local businesses.”  

More positive changes are coming, Carducci added. “After the Purdue Extension Office moved out next door…we decided to use the space,” she said. “Now our teaching artists and students have private office spaces for music lessons, and patrons to our gallery or those using the gallery space don’t have to worry about interrupting music lessons.”  

BCAC has a dedicated community board of ten members: Vicki van Matre, Myra Smith, Dan Hammond, Carol Hunt, Sydney Walter, Jon Creek, Sharon Parker, Camille Meely, Mary Beal, and Scott Love. This group meets once a month to ensure that the center is thriving.  

Current board president, Vicki van Matre, is a local resident and an art teacher for Bluffton High School. Van Matre boasts, “BCAC gives lots of fine arts opportunities to the community by providing music and different art and writing lessons. I know a lot of younger students take advantage of our MusicWorks program, Arts in the Park in the summer, and Second Saturdays.” 

Blackford County art teacher and board member, Sydney Walter agrees. “Our center is such a great resource for our community,” she said. “You don’t have to be an artist or musician to appreciate and enjoy the art, performances, or even the classes we offer at BCAC.”  

Both Van Matre and Walter help Musselman expertly hang the recurring art exhibits. The most recent one was the BCAC Annual Juried Art Show, which attracts artists from around the state. This year’s Best of Show winner, Gerald Traioff said, “The event was so well organized and so welcoming. I was impressed with how many artists and guests were in attendance.” 

Art exhibits like this put Blackford County on the map. “There was a lot of thought and consideration put into presenting the show,” Traioff continued.  “My wife Jackie and I had an enjoyable time there and hope to attend future events.”  

Check out BCAC. Unsure of your creative talents? You never know what you’re capable of until you try. Remember, Picasso said, “Every child is an artist, the problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” 

We are lucky to have the Blackford County Arts Center of Arts Place right here at 107 W Washington Street, in the heart of Hartford City – a place to nurture creativity and continue learning any of the arts, whether you’re six years old or one hundred.