EXHIBITIONS. EXPERIENCES. EVENTS. EATERY. AIRBNB. MIXOLOGY.
YOUR NEW THIRD PLACE.
CURRENT EXHIBITION: INTRODUCING THE CHEEKY
On July 15, 2023, we celebrated the grand opening of the Cheeky Museum of Art + Culture. Our first exhibition walks visitors through the concept behind the museum introducing our mission, values, and goals for 2023.
The Cheeky is a unique combination of museum models:
1. We are on a noble mission to combat loneliness in our community by connecting people together through art interactions, the creative process and mind-expanding experiences.
2. We are a participatory museum. During this exhibition we invite visitors help us shape our shows and experiences along side us.
3. We are a place-based, storytelling museum. This means we focus on capturing stories about the people, places and culture of La Grange, KY in unexpected ways.
4. We are inspired by global artists and innovators and educate the community on concepts that help us reframe our local reality and ideas.
5. We support women in the arts - Female-founded and female-led, we connect female artists and innovators through creative collaborations. Our aim is to exhibit 87% female artists annually (which is the percentage of male artist in U.S. art museums today).
6. We are a third-place - A safe, kind, and energetic place with an ever-changing environment where you can connect with the community and powerful ideas in the heart of our historic downtown.
* We are currently in the process of securing our non-profit 501(c)3 with hopes of receiving status in early 2024.
2024 DIGITAL EXPLORATORIUM:
YOU SHARE YOUR IDEAS, WE BUILD THE MUSEUM
During our introduction show, we had 150 people sign-up in person, at the Cheeky Museum in downtown La Grange, KY. Several “subject matter experts” within our community stepped up to teach their wisdom and mentor those who share their passions.
Beginning New Year’s Day 2024, we will launch a “Question-A-Day” digital exploratorium, where you can see in real-time the community shaping what the museum will become.
Can’t wait to see what you have to say!
COMING THIS JANUARY:
“NIGHT IN THE MUSEUM” AIRBNB + EXPERIENCES
WARNING: This is not your standard vacation rental. It is an interactive experience that will playfully engage you in this unique, little, historic town full of abundant curiosities, we kindly call La Grange.
This boutique Airbnb will make you feel like a rockstar. It has art-filled walls, interactive installations, hidden letters, a listening room and an expansive art + design book and magazine library. Uniquely situated on Main Street, where a freight train runs right through the middle of our small town, you will stay on the second floor above the museum and eatery. Make eye contact with a train conductor from the front windows or overlook the entertainment on the private veranda.
Packages: This fall, we are offering innovative experience packages that are co-created with inspiring local partners who make up the best of the best in Oldham County: Wedding Weekend “change-over” packages, Girlfriend Getaways, Wellbeing Weekends (and many more.) We make it easy on you, so you can be on vacation too!
6-person: 3-bedroom (King, queen, 2 twin), I full bath, ½ bath, fully stocked kitchen, washer & dryer, large-private balcony, amenities, room service, grocery stocking, spa packages, and Cheeky Bookable Experience Packages.
Booking will begin in January of 2024.
ALONG THE ALLEY LOOP: SEASONAL EVENT RENTALS
Want to have your event in the heart of downtown La Grange for your special event or party? This place is perfect for spring, summer and fall events of all kinds.
Capacity: 88 people
Catering and Bar Service: Catering options are available with local partners specializing in earth-friendly, farm to table experiences.
Museum Access: Enjoy the art and mingle in the museum during your event.
Movies, Music & Entertainment: Show a slideshow or a private outdoor movie. Hire a band or be your own DJ with on-site outdoor speakers. Hire swing dancers or host a comedy show. We connect you with local talent.
Magical, affordable and easy: We help you make your event easy and magical. We recommend high quality services for party planning, cleaning and decorating.
FOOD + DRINK:
Cheeky thanks Curious Buzz for providing La Grange’s historic downtown with a vibrant and experimental Summer + Fall 2023 line-up. Thank you to all the hard working and talented local staff that brought smiles and surprise to their guests, young and old and middle aged.
Tastings in Progress: We are exploring some new and exciting chefs and concepts for our next experiment. We plan on collaborating with you through our digital exploratorium to gather feedback throughout the process. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to participate.
CLOSED FOR THE WINTER, COLLABORATING FOR SPRING:
“GARDEN OF TWO WORLDS”
Le Jardin Des Deux Mondes
A NEW “THIRD PLACE” – Your new neighborhood hang-out. Need a place to work or get out of the house for a bit? Maybe you home school or need a spot for a meeting? Stop by and play a board game with your kiddos or have a book club? Learn more about the benefits to the community of this Third Place.
A COMMUNITY GARDEN - Le Jardin Des Deux Mondes (Garden of Two Worlds)– This winter, we will be collaborating with partners across the county to build 2024 garden plan. This will include raised gardens and 2 vertical gardens. Read about how Community Gardens Create a Place for Connections.
INTERESTED IN A BEING A GARDEN VOLUNTEER? If you are curious about sponsoring, partnering or volunteering to build next year’s garden, please contact Heather Hottenroth at (502) 515-9300.
THE MUSEUM CONCEPT
TIKTOK CHALLENGE: PRESERVATION POST
(CHALLENGE: READ IN A CHARACTER OF YOUR CHOOSING AND POST IT ON TIKTOK)
WE ARE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE:
On July 4, 2023, the town doctor’s home and apothecary, known today as 116 East Main Street in the Central Historic District of La Grange, Kentucky that lies within the National Park Service Registry of Historic Places and was declared fully restored from head-to-toe and put to good use; and will, Godwilling, be standing strong for yet another 120 years for all to enjoy, as it was when your grandfather took you there for ice cream and will still be when you take your grand daughter on graduation day. Yet another amazing building saved in La Grange. Thank you for all who helped, crafted, encouraged, purchased cocktails, healed wounds, lifted, advised and kept the journey positive.
DOCTOR’S HOME + APOTHECARY RESTORED:
From 2020 to 2023, 116 East Main was preserved as a landmark in the town of La Grange, KY as the “Doctor’s Home and Apothecary”. This turn of the century restoration project is centrally located in the town and was intended to inspire current and future building owners to invest in our community by preserving their piece of history; and for our community to watch the transformation from at-risk to extraordinary. This January, as part of our Cheeky Digital Exploratorium, we will feature the “before, during and after” photos through the transformation. The founder, Heather Hottenroth, is a female renovator and designer, who personally invested in the museum campus in addition to the physical reconstruction, with skills she learned as a teen restoring hurricane victim’s homes along the Texas Gulf Coast.
ABOUT THE FOUNDER: HEATHER HOTTENROTH
We all wear multiple hats and here are some of hers:
By trade, a innovation strategist, brand experience designer, usability specialist, capabilities
By passion, a place-based artist, historic preservationist, renovator, and volunteer community leader
By heart, a mother, wife, friend, mentor, daughter, sister
The Cheeky Museum of Art + Culture is a 25-year dream brought to life on July 15, 2023. The Cheeky Museum combines all these components for a noble purpose: to combat loneliness.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Hottenroth received the Main Street Program’s Volunteer of the Year for 2023 from Governor Andy Beshear for her efforts in historic preservation, small town revitalization and leading AlleyLoop, an interactive one-mile art walk around the central historic district in La Grange, Kentucky.
CASE STUDY
The Cheeky Museum is crafting a measurable case study that will form a model and playbook for how other small towns across America can infuse Contemporary Art in the daily lives of their communities to improve well-being and combat loneliness. We will engage partner cities to help us on our journey and help them along the way.