The Hastings Prescott Art Council (HPAC) celebrated its annual gala last Sunday, raising just over $40,000, which allows for several programs next year “to be already funded,” said HPAC President Kathy O’Keefe.

The event was held at The Confluence Hotel with some 160 attendees and raised funds for several new and existing programs ranging from classes to grants to financial support for various local art groups.

At the event, the cities of Prescott and Hastings were both recognized for their efforts in supporting the arts within their communities with HPAC’s annual Art Heroes Award.

The award is decided by a group of past winners, which range from former high school choir directors Lyn and Kathy Warren to Hastings Art Center owners Travis and Sarah Lockwood to sculptor Dale Lewis.

“HPAC doesn’t vote itself,” said O’Keefe.

At the event, mayors of both Hastings and Prescott, Mary Fasbender and Rob Daugherty, were presented with the award along with watercolor paintings of the restoration projects that were completed in each town this year.

For Prescott, the renovation of the 1887 clocktower was featured. In Hastings, the renovation to the roof and dome of the Hastings City Hall was featured.

While both projects were highlighted by HPAC as central to the award, the idea of the award was to showcase how both communities have “stepped up their support of the arts,” said Scott Northard, an HPAC Board member.

The award sought to “make sure cities were recognized for fostering the arts,” said Northard.

A year of expansion

Twenty-twenty-five marked a year of growth for HPAC, with the group’s new office opening last December.

“A big part of 2025 was expanding and filling out this building,” said Northard.

Since opening the space, the building has been renovated for community classes as well as to host a number of groups from the HPAC monthly writer’s group to practice space for the various local music groups like the chamber orchestra.

“We are thrilled with the space,” said O’Keefe.

One program that has seen success this last year was the Arts for All Ages program, with artist Jesse Eckroad. The program was initially piloted in Hasting Senior Health and Living Center and later expanded to Benedictine Living Community and the Hastings Veterans Home due to donations from the Power of 100 Women and a grant from the Doffing Fund.

The program brought art classes directly to senior citizens by bringing classes into senior living homes like Benedictine. The program was billed as a way to “make are accessible to everyone,” said Northard.

While the program was always meant to expand, its popularity and success, in addition to new funds, allowed for the program to grow quickly.

New programming is also in the works for next year beyond the continued community classes and support to other arts programming.

Residents can keep an eye out for HPAC’s ‘Mayfly Radio Hour,” a local take on the popular Moth Radio Hour, where storytellers explore a theme through true spoken-word stories.

“You can just sit and have neighbors tell you stories,” said O’Keefe.

The program, which is expected to begin next year, will have residents work with HPAC’s writers group to hone their stories and eventually present them live before an audience.

Another new program in the works is a “sketch crawl,” where artists will be invited to Hastings to set up easels and draw scenes around town to then return and present their drawings.

While O’Keefe could not provide dates on either of these programs, she encouraged residents to keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates.

“We are just getting so many new ideas,” said O’Keefe about 2026 programming.

Community Project Grant

HPAC continues to seek projects within Hastings and Prescott ranging from art installations like murals to performance art for its Community Project Grant.

The grant awards up to $2,000 to projects that meet HPAC’s criteria on “artistic merit, community impact, and feasibility.”

A recent example of a project that received HPAC’s community project grant is the rainbow bridge at the Hastings Dog Park meant to memorialize pets that have ‘crossed the rainbow bridge: after their death.

The project was spearheaded by resident Nicole DePalma and received HPAC’s community project grant in addition to other funds, and the bridge and memorial was unveiled earlier this month.

To stay up to date on HPAC programming and events, visit www.hastingsprescottarts.org, or follow them on Facebook at Hastings Prescott Arts Council.