By next year’s “Twilight in the Gardens” event, the 93-year-old
Baker Hunt Art & Cultural Center will have undergone a $2.5 million expansion and renovation. The plans were presented to the City of Covington’s design review board in late February but haven’t been put before the board for approval yet.
The Baker Hunt was founded in 1922 by Margaretta Baker Hunt, a Covington arts, education and religious activist. The adjacent Scudder mansion is also part of the property and once belonged to Baker Hunt’s niece, Kate Scudder. A 1920s auditorium and studio space round out the 3.5-acre campus.
The Baker Hunt offers arts and cultural classes for children and adults, serving about 2,700 students in the Tristate each year. Classes include painting, drawing, photography, ceramics, quilting, language, dance and yoga for all ages and skill levels.
All four existing buildings on the Baker Hunt property will be renovated, and there will be some new construction as well. A ramp and elevator will be added in order to make the main building more accessible, and a new front entrance will allow the Baker Hunt to be more accessible from Greenup Street.
New structures will be added around the campus as well as a modern glass-walled “functional sculpture” that will serve as a space for various activities.
Along with the physical renovations, the Baker Hunt is also improving its curriculum and adding more teachers.
GBBN Architects will be heading up the renovation. Some of the necessary funding is already in place, and the Baker Hunt plans fundraising activities for the rest.
"Twilight in the Gardens" is a yearly celebration of art, food and music and is held in the gardens on the Baker Hunt property in the fall. Stay tuned to
Baker Hunt's website for event details, including date, time and participating restaurants.
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