ABOUT US

The neighborhood of Lower Town has undergone a dramatic makeover due to our city’s leap of faith and the imagination of a group of artists. The city of Paducah created The Artist Relocation Program back in March 2000 in order to revitalize the decaying Lower Town neighborhood. Since then The Artist Relocation Program has become a national model for using the arts for economic development.  At a time when funding for the arts was being cut, Paducah fostered an environment where artists and the arts could flourish. The goals of the program were to revitalize one of Paducah’s most historic neighborhoods through the Arts.  Properties were offered by the city at little cost (often as low as $1) , the intrigue of becoming a part of a true art enclave proved irresistible.  To date, Lower Town artists/residents, primarily through a generous and innovative financing arrangement offered by community partner Paducah Bank, have invested over $30 million in restoring this model community to its previous glory.

As you walk around the Lower Town Historic Arts District today you’ll find working artist studios & galleries, event venues, a coffee house, eateries, and beautifully restored historic homes.