This new fund was established in 2021 with a lead gift of 10 acres of land from Art and Beverly VanHouten. It will enable us to continue to secure additional land for the park, to maintain the viewshed and to preserve the natural landscapes that surround this inspiring place. If you are interested in land conservation, join us!

Josephine Sculpture Park (JSP) was founded in 2009 by artist Melanie VanHouten on land that was her grandparents' farm and was named to honor her grandmother, Josephine. It is Kentucky’s only sculpture park and features over 80 ever-changing artworks spread across 30 acres. The Park’s mission is to connect people to each other and the land through the arts. JSP provides the community and visitors from around the world with creative arts and environmental education, and transformative opportunities to artists, all while conserving Kentucky’s rural, native landscapes. 

Art and Beverly VanHouten met at Franklin County High School and married in 1971. Art served in the National Guard and graduated from KY State University in 1976. Beverly earned an associate degree in Interior Design from Louisville Technical Institute in 1987. They have co-owned VanHouten Builders since 1976 and together have constructed and designed hundreds of custom homes across central KY, which they continue to do to this day. In 1982, the family moved to Snowshoe Mountain, WV where Art was the manager for Hawthorne Valley Project through 1984. In addition, they were co-owners of VanHouten and Rogers from 1984-1989. They have an impeccable reputation for quality construction and integrity. 

In 1975, they welcomed their first child, Melanie who was an artist and loved to build things from the very start. She spent hours on Art’s parents’ farm exploring the outdoors and developing a deep connection to the natural world. She went away to school but moved back to KY in 2008 to launch Josephine Sculpture Park on the family farm and continues to serve as the Executive Director. Their son Bert was born in 1979. He has a lovely family of his own and now serves as the Vice President of Harrod Concrete and Stone. He and Art also enjoy renovating houses together, in their “spare time”. 

The VanHouten’s have supported JSP in a myriad of ways since its inception in 2008. They enabled the park to grow by renting the original 20 acres to the organization for $1 per year. In addition, Art served on the board while Beverly managed the bookkeeping for the first 12 years and they continue to provide in kind and financial support. In 2021 they gifted JSP 10 acres of land which established the Josephine Fund named after Art’s mother. 

Establishing The Josephine Fund, will allow JSP to exist on this land and share it with our entire community for generations to come. The Park’s board and staff intend to grow the fund to $2.5 million by 2029, our 20th anniversary.

If you are interested in land conservation we invite you to join us in investing in the Josephine Fund. For more information please contact Josephine Sculpture Park or call Melanie at 502-352-7082 ext. 1.