Nurturing the 'Uncommon Wealth' of Arts
Arts Kentucky provides artists with the resources to achieve their best

Most Kentuckians are aware of the Commonwealth’s rich artistic tradition. World-renowned artists and craftspeople in every form and medium hale from every region of the state. A wide variety of arts organizations continue to nurture future artists and create opportunities for Kentuckians of all ages to experience art first-hand and learn more about its tradition in the Bluegrass.

Kentucky artists and craftspeople have provided a long tradition of cultural benefits to the commonwealth as well as considerable economic resources. However, for many of these individuals and groups it has been a continuous struggle to gain the funding and exposure necessary to survive.

That is why Arts Kentucky was formed – to not only ensure the survival of these groups, but also to help them thrive. Created in 1998 with support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Kentucky Arts Council, the purpose of Arts Kentucky is to be a service organization that provides resources to community-based arts and cultural groups, as well as individual artists, crafters, and performers. It belongs to the National Community Arts Network (NCAN) which includes about 23 members, all statewide membership organizations similar in purpose to Arts Kentucky.

“The Kentucky Arts Council recognized a need for more substantial and direct technical assistance to community-based arts and cultural organizations that they could not always provide based on their staff limitations,” says Trish Salerno, executive director of Arts Kentucky since its inception.

Arts Kentucky assists artists, craftspeople, arts groups and cultural organizations in their growth and development by providing a means for networking among peers, encouraging cross-cultural collaborations and activities, and spreading the word about the “uncommon wealth” of the arts in Kentucky.

Arts Kentucky also provides consulting services and technical assistance; easy access to information, resources, and tools for those working in the arts; assistance in creating meaningful and productive partnerships; professional development opportunities through workshops and seminars; and a fast, effective communication network via the Internet.

With a membership that includes individuals, nonprofit organizations, schools, and businesses throughout the state, Arts Kentucky performs these services for one reason – its founders believe that arts and culture enrich the lives of our citizens, enhance the education of our children, strengthen the economic stability of our communities, and make Kentucky a better place to live.

And Kentucky’s arts organizations are reaping those benefits. “Someone asked me not long ago, ‘What does Arts Kentucky do?’ My response was, ‘They make my job easier!’ Everything Trish takes care of from the weekly Quickie to technical support, to regional workshops is a huge asset to arts organizations large and small across Kentucky.

“The Pennyroyal Arts Council has used the Kentucky Peer Advisors Network twice to bring consultants to work with our board on both long-range planning, and partnerships. Both projects went wonderfully and would not have been affordable for us without the assistance of Arts Kentucky. Our membership is one of our wisest investments,” says Jennifer Steiner Maddux, executive director of the Pennyroyal Arts Council in Hopkinsville.

Salerno has ambitious plans for Arts Kentucky. “I hope that Arts Kentucky will continue to experience consistent growth in the number of members we serve each year and growth in the number of programs and services we offer. I hope that the momentum we have created over the past three years will result in more and more of Kentucky’s artists and arts organizations working with us to help improve our communities through the arts.”

 

Deanna Mascle is a staff writer for The Lane Report.
editorial@lanereport.com

Back to Spotlight on the Arts Index

Back to May Issue

 

Copyright 1996-2002, by Kentucky Business Online.  All rights reserved.

Editorial content is copyright 2002, Lane Communications Group
All editorial material is fully protected and must not be reproduced in any manner without prior permission.

The Lane Report is a trademark of Lane Communications Group.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.