Member Spotlight: The Associated Artists of Butler County
- katelynkocis
- Jun 23
- 2 min read
Art is essential to any community's health, identity, and vitality.
It tells the story of its people.
It reflects communities' values, history, and emotions and allows them to express themselves creatively.
Even more so, exposure to the arts improves creativity, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence, especially among young people, by fostering imagination, building confidence, and strengthening communication.
Art builds community and belonging, bringing people together across all generations, cultures, and backgrounds.
Encouraging the arts isn’t just about supporting creativity – it’s about investing in a stronger, more connected, and more compassionate community.
That’s exactly what the Associated Artists of Butler County (AABC) and the Butler Art Center Gallery are trying to do. The 501©3 nonprofit charitable organization’s mission is to encourage, promote, and foster the arts in Butler County, and they are a proud member of CTCC.
Beginning as a small, informal “artists club” in the late 1920s, the AABC became an official organization in 1934 and established a permanent presence in downtown Butler in 1990. The AABC hosts nine annual major, month-long exhibits, after-school art programs, adult classes, and workshops. Inside their building along South Main Street, visitors will find 7,000 square feet of gallery space, the “Underground Gallery” and performance space, a Kid’s Art Center and classroom, a ceramics laboratory, and a Members Gallery Shop. The AABC also hosts a weekly Spirit Café, giving poets, novelists, and musicians a space to showcase their talents.
Coming to the Art Center on June 25, 2025, is “An Artful Celebration of Pets,” featuring paintings, photographs, and sculptures of 2-legged, 4-legged, many-legged, or no-legged animal friends. The Opening Reception, scheduled for June 27, 2025, from 7-9 p.m. at the Art Center, will also include pet-related vendors providing information about pet services in the area. The show runs through July 26, 2025.
CTCC is proud to have the Associated Artists of Butler County as a nonprofit member. They are more than just a group of artists; they are a creative force providing opportunities for artists of all ages and skill levels to grow, exhibit their work, and connect with the community.
