In the late summer of 1963, the Art Department of the Women's Department Club began looking for a Community Improvement Project. Either Mrs. Lola Louden, Mrs. Agnes Becker or both came up with the suggestion of establishing an Art Center or an Art Gallery for Lawrence County. At the first meeting were Elizabeth Vaught, Charlie Crawford, Hazel Pickens, Lola Louden, Agnes Becker, Pearl Rout (chair of the Art Department) and others. The first decision was to hold an Arts & Crafts show in November of 1963.  The original committee from the Art Department hoped to find a permanent location for an Art Center. The Chamber of Commerce expressed their pleasure at the prospect of having such a center in Bedford. . The first show was held at 812 16th Street, Bedford. It was open for nine days and brought into focus many talents that were largely unknown within the community. More than a hundred paintings, along with many ceramics and stone carvings were exhibited with over forty artists participating. During the last evening of the show, a small group of workers sat discussing the show and the possibility of actually establishing an Art Association. They appointed a couple of temproary officers: Agnes Becker as chair and Elizabeth Vaught as treasurer. On a cold and snowy night in January of 1964 about fifteen hardy and dedicated individuals met at the home of the Vaughts and established the Lawrence County Art Association. The first officers were: Charles Crawford, president; Ralph Callahan, first vice president; Nelson Sears, second vice president; Betty Owens, recording secretary; Dorothy Chase, corresponding secretary; and Elizabeth Vaught, treasurer.