The Bourbon County arts Council would like to invite you to join them in celebrating creativity in our community at this year’s “Bad Art by Good People” Fundraising Event and Auction, this Thursday November 13th, at 7 pm at the Ellis Family Fine Arts Center in Fort Scott.
The first “Bad Art” Event was held in 2013. This year’s auction will be the 7th of its kind, with 19 “artists” participating. Since that first auction, 145 community members have donated their time and creative energy (with a bit of humility) to this project, where individuals are given a canvas and asked to create an original piece of art. The BCAC provides “Mentoring Workshops” with the help of local artists, to provide inspiration and technical advice to those partaking.
This year’s artists include Thyra Babcock, Joshua Baseley, Carissa Bowman, Teresa Davenport, Vance Eden, Reverand Christopher Eshelman, Cassi Farmer, Carson Felt, Yolanda Gray Furman, Reverand Sarah Gengler, Britney Halsey, David McCord, Rita Schroeder, Angie Simon, Summer (Buerge) Timperley, Susan Townley, Kate Williams, Karen Wilterding, and Hunter Witt.
The event will begin at 7:00pm, with viewing and voting for this year’s “Best Bad Artist”. The winner of this award will receive a certificate for $50.00 in Chamber Bucks, which can be spent at any of over 60 local retailers. Auctioneer Marty Read will conduct the sale at 7:30, and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
Bad Art by Good People is one way that the BCAC attempts to fulfill its mission to “foster, promote and increase the knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts” in our community. The funds raised are used to support local students, by donating annually to “Project Art” at Fort Scott Middle School and providing scholarships to high school seniors in Bourbon County who will be pursuing art related majors in college. This year, the BCAC provided scholarships for the Children’s Camp at the Artificers Gallery and contributed to the Gordon Parks Celebration; they also hosted three Patio Concerts at Crooners and their Membership Drive Concert featuring Barnaby Bright at the Liberty Theater. The BCAC will host its 34th Annual Fine Arts Exhibit, for local and regional artists, from March 5th through the 14th 2026 at the Ellis Family Fine arts Center.
The Bourbon County Arts Council is comprised of the following Board members: Deb Halsey, President, Lucy Gladbach, Vice-President, Terri Floyd, Treasurer, and Steve Floyd, Secretary, as well as former President Deb Anderson, Sheryl Bloomfield, Elaine Buerge, Trent Freeman, Kelly Nelson, Ron Query, and Robin Whitlock.
Again, come out and enjoy an evening of original art, and cast your vote for this year’s “Best Bad Artist”!