2025 Creative Arts of the Year Award - Ms. Kathy Carter-Young Crete Creative Gallery & School
Ms. Kathy Carter-Young
Crete Creative Gallery & School was founded in 2017 and is dedicated to promoting arts accessibility and education in Crete, IL, and beyond. The mission is to showcase artists from both near and far and to foster a love, interest and passion for the arts in the community. They believe that culture and the arts should be available to everyone, not just in big cities.
Since 2017, Crete Creative Gallery and School has strived to create a welcoming environment for exhibition and education. In 2024, a close partnership with the Crete Public Library for exhibition and event space, a change warmly welcomed by the community and the artists who make the organization possible. The numerous exhibitions feature emerging and established artists, providing a platform for diverse artistic voices. The educational programs range from workshops and classes for children and adults to community outreach initiatives, ensuring that art remains an integral part of life in Crete.
Ms. Carter-Young joined the initial planning meeting led by Tim Brennan and Leonard Tamburro in 2017, where they discussed the need for an art gallery and school in the underserved south suburbs. An “art dabbler” herself, Ms. Carter-Young has a deep passion for art and children. She has been the director of a before and after-school program in her hometown of Crete for 24 years and, since 2022, has served as the President of Crete Creative Gallery and School.
