In Keeping with Tradition
Twenty years of Kentucky art and craft history

Many non-profit organizations support arts and crafts as a part of their mission. But the support of these constitutes the entire mission of the Kentucky Art and Craft Foundation (KACF). The KACF was the unexpected result of a political campaign.

KACF was established in 1981 by then-Kentucky First Lady Phyllis George Brown. Its mission is to continue Kentucky’s art and craft heritage by providing support and education for the state’s craft artists. The KACF also has the task of educating the public about the Commonwealth’s rich arts and crafts tradition. While on the campaign trail in 1980, the former Kentucky First Lady met hundreds of artisans and developed a tremendous admiration for Kentucky crafts. She began to build her own significant quilt collection.

With Mary Shands, Brown started the Kentucky Art and Craft Foundation. She became the most visible supporter of Kentucky crafts, giving them as gifts of state and selling Kentucky-made items. Brown used her fame as Kentucky First Lady, a former Miss America and as a TV personality with great effectiveness.

Today Kentucky crafts stand on their own reputation – thanks in no small part to KACF. The foundation has a national reputation of its own in the American craft movement for its successful efforts. This is no small achievement in the booming national crafts market.

The road to gallery glory
The Kentucky Art and Craft Foundation Gallery opened in 1984 on West Main Street in Louisville. The move was made in response to the requests of craftspeople and artisans who wanted a place to show and sell their work. The building chosen for the location is an important work of art as well. Located in the center of Louisville’s downtown historic district, it dates to the 1850s and is part of the second largest collection of cast-iron faÁades in the U.S. (the largest being in the SoHo district of New York City).

As time passed, the artists garnered print recognition thanks to Brown and KACF. In 1989, Phyllis George Brown published “Kentucky Crafts: Handmade and Heartfelt,” with a list of artisans compiled by the Kentucky Art and Craft Foundation. The gallery issued its first mail-order catalog in 1991.

In 1996, the TriArt Gallery was opened in downtown Louisville. A gallery and gift shop, TriArt was a cooperative effort of KACF, the Speed Art Museum and the Louisville Visual Art Association. The gallery and gift shop proceeds benefit the educational programs of all three organizations.

Today at the KACF
Since 1981, public response to KACF continues to grow. More than 85,000 people visit the Foundation and its galleries each year.

The KACF Gallery includes two galleries and a retail shop. The Foundation presents 12 annual exhibitions with half of those based on a central theme. The other six exhibitions display small groups of Kentucky craft artists to provide a more in-depth focus on their work. In addition, KACF offers touring exhibitions appearing throughout Kentucky and as well as in museums and galleries outside the Commonwealth. There are also distinct exhibitions created for the Brown-Forman Gallery and special events, such as the Oaks Brunch and Bourbon Ball.

In addition, the sale gallery features the work of between 450 and 600 artists at any one time, offering work in all media from folk art to furniture.

The Foundation educates Kentucky’s future by reaching more than 70,000 school children through its unique education programs. These include school partnerships, Saturday Morning Hands-on Workshops, community center programs, summer craft camps, teacher in-service training sessions and traveling suitcases.

A look ahead
While marking nearly 20 years of successful support for Kentucky’s artists and craftspeople, KACF is not willing to remain static. Future plans include searching for a new building location to provide expanded exhibition and education facilities as well as display space for KACF’s extensive permanent collection. “A larger space will allow KACF to properly display this collection,” says Paula Campbell, director of marketing and public relations.

Plans call for two to three times the current 10,000-s.f. in use. However, KACF has plans for every square foot it can acquire including larger workshops for the public, expanded retail service (perhaps including food), more services for children and a lecture series. The new facility possibly may include studio space for artists.

Future plans also include forming a museum of folk art and contemporary crafts in Louisville.
 

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

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