History:
In 1929 a small, dedicated group of Greensburg artists began meeting in each other’s homes to paint still-life paintings and to discuss and critique the art works they created. They called themselves the Kinderhook Group, and they flourished under the tutelage of Alex Fletcher, a well known local professional artist. The Kinderhook Group grew in membership and scope, and was incorporated as the Greensburg Art Club in 1952, a non-profit educational organization. The purpose of the Greensburg Art Club, to promote knowledge and understanding of the fine arts, was fulfilled through instruction and encouragement to artists, students at all levels of experience, and all other persons with fine art interests.
In 1955 the organization bought the historic, two room public school on Todd School Road, east of Greensburg. In honor of its first mentor, the Art Club named the school the Alex Fletcher Memorial Art Center.
During the next few decades many art classes, workshops, and art programs were developed and taught at the Art Center, while at the same time ties were extended into the community. An art curriculum for the Westmoreland County Community College began at the Center, then was transferred to the College when their facility had room for the classes. For many years the Greensburg Art Club exhibited their popular Member’s Annual Show at the Westmoreland Museum of (American) Art, drawing large crowds of viewers. The tremendously successful Art and Heritage Festival, which draws tens of thousands of visitors each July at Twin Lakes Park, began as a small art festival in the backyard of the Art Center.
