The Floyd County Library Cultural Arts Center, a branch of the Floyd County Library, serves as a cultural resource for the education and enjoyment of the citizens of Floyd County and the surrounding metro area. To fulfill that mission we collect, preserve, and interpret the history and heritage of Floyd County; promote an appreciation of and participation in the visual arts; and preserve the historic Carnegie Library building in which the museum is housed.
Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish-American industrialist, used his vast wealth to fund his passion for free access to education and literacy. In his lifetime he funded thousands of libraries, schools and universities around the world, donating the modern equivalent of more than 76 billion dollars of his fortune.
Indiana is home to more Carnegie libraries than any other state and New Albany is just one town that benefited from Andrew Carnegie’s generosity. Our stunning home was designed by famed Louisville architectural firm of Clark and Loomis, which would later go on to design the Speed Art Museum. Construction on the library began in 1902 and was completed in 1904.
The building served as the town’s library for 65 years. In 1969, New Albany-Floyd County Public Library moved into much larger premises at 180 West Spring Street, where it remains today.
After the newly vacated former library building was threatened with demolition, a group of citizens formed the Floyd County Museum in 1971 as a local history museum and art gallery. The Floyd County Museum was incorporated into the New Albany-Floyd County Public Library in 1988.
After a major renovation in 1998, the museum was renamed the Carnegie Center for Art and History. The name better reflects our library heritage and mission to protect the historic building, to collect, preserve and interpret local history and to promote an appreciation of and participation in the visual arts.
The Cultural Arts Center stands as testament to the dedication of New Albany’s residents – to preserve our town and our region’s past, to educate our children, and to celebrate the arts.
As a public entity the Center has designated entrances, restrooms, and elevator services that are compliant for accessibility following State and Federal ADA requirements.
The Center is pleased to be a member of the United States National Park Service’s Network to Freedom. The Network to Freedom was implemented with the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998 as an effort to connect and preserve local historical places and museums associated with the Underground Railroad. More information on the Network to Freedom can be found here. The Center’s membership in the Network to Freedom strengthens our mission to preserve the history of New Albany and provide that history to a national network.
The Cultural Arts Center is supported by the Indiana Arts Commission
Laura Wilkins has been with the Floyd County Library for over 20 years. She served as Director of Education followed by Director of Marketing and Outreach at the Carnegie Center for 14 years, and then spent the next five years at the Floyd County Library as Engagement and Outreach Coordinator. Wilkins has a BA in Art History and French and an MBA from the University of Louisville. She is a native of Bowling Green, Kentucky and has lived in Louisville since 1998.
Allison earned her Master’s in Library and Information Science from University of Illinois and her Bachelor’s in Art History from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has more than 13 years of experience working for arts and cultural organizations. Allison coordinates exhibitions at the Carnegie Center for Art & History and manages the Floyd County Library’s fine art and local history collections.
Sheridan is a Louisville native with a Master’s Degree in Art History from Syracuse University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Berea College in Art History and Studio Art. Prior to joining the Carnegie Center for Art and History, Sheridan worked with the Speed Art Museum in both Education and Curatorial.
Stephanie has been employed at the Floyd County Library for 39 years. She graduated from IU Southeast in 2021 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science and Arts. She has now moved to a different area of the Library at the Carnegie Center for Art and History.
Daniel Vance is a southern Indiana native who graduated from IU Southeast with a BFA in Graphic Design in 2017. Prior to working for the Floyd County Library and the Carnegie Center for Art and History, Daniel spent the past five years working as a designer, illustrator, photographer and videographer.
The Cultural Arts Center is a branch of The Floyd County Library, governed by the library Board of Trustees.
2023 Library Board of Trustees
Roger Whaley, President
Erica Lawrence, Vice President
Kate Ziady, Secretary
Amy Niemeier, Treasurer
Steve Burks, Board Member
Ann Carruthers, Board Member
Pam Poe, Board Member