Over the course of years since the Americans with Disabilities Act, arts organizations have struggled with accessibility issues ranging from doing the right thing to being compliant with the law.  Along the way, performing arts presenters and arts organizations have stumbled upon a new reality.  There is a market segment that is 49.7 million people strong nationally, whose aggregate income now exceeds $1 trillion and that boasts $220 billion in discretionary spending.  In Kentucky alone, there were nearly 900,000 people over age 5 with a disability according to the 2000 U.S. census.  “We know this market has its challenges,” says Arts Council director Gerri Combs. “That’s why we are offering these workshops.  We want arts organizations to be able to tap into this huge market and we want to increase accessibility to the arts for all Kentuckians at the same time.”

            Arts Access- Marketing to an Underserved Audience will cover such topics as audience development, advertising access services, making materials legible, Web accessibility and managing internal organizational changes.  There is no charge for the workshops however a Marketing Toolkit will be available for $20 on site.  The Kentucky Center, Access Services will conduct the workshops in five locations across the state.

Paducah, June 3, 12 noon- 4 p.m. CDT, Paducah Community College

Somerset, June 8, 12 noon- 4 p.m. EDT, The Center for Rural Development

Ashland, June 15, 12 noon- 4 p.m. EDT, Paramount Fine Arts Center

Madisonville, June 24, 12 noon- 4 p.m. CDT, Glema Mahr Center for the Arts

Lexington, June 30, 12 noon- 4 p.m. EDT, Singletary Center for the Arts

            For registration information, please contact Stacy Ridgway at The Kentucky Center, 502-562-0111, 502-562-0140 or sridgway@kentuckycenter.org.

            The Kentucky Arts Council and the Wallace Foundation provide funding for these workshops.

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The Kentucky Center is the state's premiere performing arts center, a cultural catalyst that exists to enhance the quality of life for all people by providing diverse artistic performances, broad educational programs and rich cultural experiences.

The Kentucky Arts Council is a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet.  Working in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the Arts Council invests in programs that develop vibrant communities, provide lifelong education in the arts and support arts participation.  Every $1 in grant funds awarded by the Kentucky Arts Council helps grantees secure $20 in earned income and matching funds from individuals, philanthropic sources and other levels of government.

The Wallace Foundation is an independent private foundation established by DeWitt and Lila Acheson Wallace, the founders of The Reader’s Digest Association whose mission is to enable institutions to expand learning and enrichment opportunities for all people.