In 1955, Brown County artists exchanged their paintbrushes for hammers to turn a former residence in downtown Nashville, Indiana, into the home of the Brown County Art Guild.

In 2023, you can become part of this heritage by supporting the world’s finest expression of art colony culture. 

In the late 1800s through early 1900s, the art world recognized Brown County, Indiana, as a premier art colony. It was here that many of the period’s leading artists captured breathtaking landscapes and pioneered new schools of artistic expression.

In 1954, Marie Goth, V.J. Cariani, Carl Graf, Genevieve Goth Graf, C. Curry Bohm, Dale Bessire, Georges LaChance and ten other notable artists formed the Brown County Art Guild to preserve the caliber and camaraderie of the art colony. The Guild purchased the historic Minor House, built in 1857, for its beauty and location in the heart of downtown Nashville, Indiana. 

As the original Guild members passed away, they bequeathed significant works of art to Marie Goth. Upon her death in 1975, she left this historic collection to the Guild as the centerpiece of its permanent collection. Her gift also enabled the Guild to restore and expand the Minor House to better function as an art venue — part gallery, part museum.

Today, more than 45 member artists form the Brown County Art Guild, displaying rotating collections of their works inside the Minor House. And each year, an estimated 11,000 people visit the Guild or participate in our events and programs.

Recognized by the state of Indiana as a vital part of the historic and current center of art in Indiana, the Guild receives funding from various sources, including the generous patronage of people who value Indiana’s artistic heritage and culture.

The Guild ReEnvisioned is a $1.1 million capital campaign to remodel the Brown County Art Guild. Launched in 2022 and continuing in 2023, the campaign is comprised of three overarching goals:

1. Protect the building and art collections

The Marie Goth Estate Collection includes 1,100 historic paintings. In addition, contemporary artists have gifted 100+ works to the Guild. 

To continue to protect and share our art collections, we must elevate our building’s systems to modern standards. 

2. Empower artists to carry on the tradition of art excellence 

The Guild’s 40+ member artists carry on the art colony tradition and high standards in which the Guild is rooted. 

To continue to be a catalyst for exceptional artists, we must ensure their brick-and-mortar Brown County home remains strong.   

3. Enhance the Brown County Art Guild experience

An estimated 11,000 visitors and event participants come in contact with the Guild on an annual basis. The building’s dual purposes as both a gallery and museum offer people multiple ways to connect to art excellence past and present. 

Improvements to the interior space will allow us to create a more inspiring experience for guests and artists.

The thoughtful renovation plan honors the Guild’s history while modernizing our systems and the experience for contemporary audiences. 

The design team for The Guild ReEnvisioned includes experts in architecture, interior design, lighting, mechanical/electrical engineering, structural engineering, and construction. 

The $1.1 million estimate for this project also includes necessary communications and marketing costs, expenses already covered by a generous donor. 

The following designs are preliminary renderings that represent the scope of The  Guild ReEnvisioned project. 

The 1,200 pieces of art that comprise the Marie Goth Estate Collection and other valuable works donated to the Brown County Art Guild are housed in the lower level of the Minor House. 

ReEnvisioned Improvements: 

• Bring the vault, outer holding room and storage closet up to current archival storage and fire retardant standards including HVAC and humidity control.
• Install new security door. 
• Optimize space to accommodate collection expansion. 
• Install new storage racks.

To invite visitors into the gallery to fully experience the Guild’s history and art, we must make sure they feel welcome and comfortable inside and outside the building.

ReEnvisioned Improvements:

• Improve outdoor signage and landscaping.
• Create the best flow for the visitor experience and improve related signage throughout first and second floor galleries.
• Remove walls by the main floor stairway for better visibility and openness.
• Create optimal spaces for exhibits, gift shop and informational signage to improve the integration of functions.
• Create gallery informational wall panels to communicate the Guild’s history and current mission, and connect visitors to our story

The Guild’s artisan shop features pottery, jewelry and other goods handcrafted by local artisans. The shop serves as a gateway for many visitors to connect to Brown County’s art colony history and fine art.

ReEnvisioned Improvements:

• Relocate artisan shop to central gallery for better accessibility and visibility.
• Replace outdated cabinets with more modern mobile display cases and racks.
• Purchase more diverse, sophisticated props to display items for sale.

Because of the Guild’s high standards for membership, the level of talent among today’s member artists is comparable to that of our founders. How we exhibit their works should reach a similar level of excellence.

ReEnvisioned Improvements:

• Replace the nearly 50-year-old lighting system with modern lighting technology.
• Replace older, worn burlap wall coverings with new burlap materials.
• Install mobile display panels to allow flexibility in exhibition configurations.

The ReEnvisioned space also includes updates to the Guild’s current interior design.

ReEnvisioned Improvements:

• Refinish and repair worn hardwood floors in entry, main gallery and stairways.
• Replace worn carpeting on main floor and upstairs gallery.
• Redesign seating areas on the second floor for visitors to pause and connect to featured works.

Will you provide a generous gift to help remodel the historic home of the Brown County Art Guild? Together, we can protect and champion the finest expression of art colony culture. 

Legacy Gifts: Make the Brown County Art Guild a part of your philanthropic legacy. To discuss charitable bequests, beneficiary designations or other ways to participate as a benefactor, please email director@bcartguild.org or call (812) 988-6185.