artfarm Celebrates Grand Opening with May Day Launch

A New Commons for Art and Organizing in Lexington

Lexington, KY, April 2025 — On Thursday, May 1st, artfarm will officially open its doors to the public with a celebratory MAY DAY AF Grand Opening, marking the launch of Lexington’s newest artist-run, community-powered space dedicated to art and organizing. Located at 1123 Winchester Road, artfarm invites the press and public to join in an evening of festivities, food, and collective visioning.

Combining the creative autonomy of an artist-run space with the democratic spirit of a free school, artfarm is a cooperative commons of, by, and for working-class artists and our neighbors. At its core, artfarm is committed to building a more free, caring, and ecological world, rooted in the idea that art is for everyone and everyone can be an artist. 

“artfarm is more than just a third space—a space that’s neither work nor home, and where consumption is not a prerequisite for access— it’s an infrastructure of hope,” said the three artfarm Cooperators in a statement. “It’s a place where artists, organizers, and community members can collaborate, cross-pollinate, and care for one another in an increasingly tumultuous political landscape which seeks to stifle our movements and our creativity.”

What artfarm Offers the Bluegrass Region:

• Sliding-scale artist studios and office space for grassroots organizations
  
• Classes, workshops, and skill-shares open to the public
  
• Art gallery, performance stage, and film screenings
  
• Tool Library, info shop, and Really Really Free Store
  
• Pay-what-you-can membership model to ensure accessibility
  
• Shop featuring artwork and wares from local artists and makers
  
• Monthly financial transparency meetings, quarterly commons maintenance meetings, annual visioning & budget gatherings, and sortition of responsibilities among curatorial, educational, safety, & other teams
  

Members of the artfarm community can host their own events, join curatorial or education committees, and help shape programming through directly democratic decision-making processes.

Interested artists, organizations, and community members can learn more and join us at www.artfarm.coop. 

The MAY DAY AF event will include live music, artmaking stations, snax, tours, comfy cozy seating, face painting, and open doors—offering Lexingtonians a chance to experience the fruits of the commons firsthand.

Event Details: May Day: artfarm Grand Opening

• 1123 Winchester Rd, Lexington, KY
• Thursday, May 1, 2025
• 5:00–8:00 PM
• Live performances, art installations, food, tours, and more!

Attendees can RSVP on Eventbrite.

Press release courtesy of artfarm.