GLSD Art Conservation Trust
The school district has consistently recognized the inherent value of providing well-rounded educational opportunities that encompass all aspects of a student’s education, including cultural, cognitive, and expressive elements. This philosophy is exemplified through the unique collections of original art that adorn the walls of Greater Latrobe Senior and Junior High Schools, as well as in each of the school district’s three elementary schools. These collections, generated from the creative spirit of two imaginative teachers who wanted their students to experience art actively, are among the finest collections of original 20th-century art from Southwestern Pennsylvania. They are unique in that they are entirely student-selected and, for the most part, student-purchased.
This unique student project sparked a partnership between the Greater Latrobe School District and the broader community that thrives to this day. For example, The Latrobe One Hundred Friends of Art was organized in 1938 to promote the art collection and help the students to purchase their selections. In 1991, at the recommendation of Mr. Beatty, the Board of School Directors formed the Art Conservation Trust to oversee the care and conservation of the collection. The Trust comprises community members, faculty, and school district administrators.
The Art Conservation Trust has raised funds from the annual Art Gala and community and foundation contributions to undertake numerous projects related to the collection. The entire collection was professionally conserved at the school, allowing the student body to observe the process. A security system was installed, and the collection was professionally photographed for documentation purposes. This documentation resulted in a book titled A Unique Vision of Art, first published in 1996, which includes photographs and descriptions of each piece in the collection.
In 2008, the Trust published the second edition of A Unique Vision of Art ($30), which includes color reproductions of all acquisitions from 1936 to 2007. In 2022, the Trust published a supplemental catalog, An Extended Vision of Art ($15), which includes the high school acquisitions from 2008 to 2021, the entire collections from the junior and elementary schools, as well as select pieces from the Ancillary Collection. All proceeds from the sale of the books will be used to conserve the collection, ensuring the vision continues. The catalogs can be purchased at The Latrobe Art Center and the Center for Student Creativity. The books are also available by mail with an additional $5 for mailing costs.
The Trust expanded its mission and successfully undertook a unique and enterprising project in 2001 to raise nearly $ 2 million to create a Center for Student Creativity, a facility for collaborative creative activity involving students and the community. The Center also includes a Courtyard that is used for outdoor classes, performances, and social gatherings. The Center was made possible with funding from the School District, foundations, corporations, and numerous individual gifts. The Art Conservation Trust is truly grateful to all those who made the Capital Campaign a success.
Click the link below to watch the Art Trust's 14-minute film.