Ed Lawrence, Public Information Officer

1-888-833-2787 ext. 4803

ed.lawrence@mail.state.ky.us 

                (Frankfort, KY) —  This year's statewide performing arts showcase, booking conference and series of workshops, produced by the Kentucky Arts Council will be held in Lexington on October 7-8, 2003.  "Kentucky on Stage has always been a great opportunity for performing arts centers and arts organizations that produce a performing arts series, to discover great Kentucky talent and sharpen up their audience development skills," says Arts Council executive director Gerri Combs.  "This year we hope to attract others to this conference that have the ability to bring Kentucky performing artists into their community like libraries, downtown revitalization programs and festivals -- even corporate event planners, shopping malls, restaurants and coffee houses."  Fee subsidies are available to qualified non-profit presenters for booking artists through the Arts Council's Performing Arts on Tour grant program.

            The showcases are short performances by musicians, singers, storytellers, theatre troupes, and dance ensembles that have been selected by a panel for inclusion in the Kentucky Arts Council's Performing Arts Directory based on artistic excellence and touring experience.  Showcases begin each afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at the Downtown Arts Center, 141 E. Main Street, Lexington and run through 5:30 p.m.   Additional showcases, billed as the Kentucky Coffeehouse, will combine more great performances with coffees, desserts and the option of a cash bar at the Phoenix Ballroom, in Victorian Square on Main Street, on Tuesday evening, from 7:00-9:30 p.m. All showcases are free and the public is encouraged to attend.

            In conjunction with Kentucky on Stage, the Kentucky Arts Council will offer a series of workshops for presenters and performing artists called Setting the Stage at the Lexington Central Library on Main Street each morning from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Workshops for presenters will cover a wide range of topics including grant and technical assistance opportunities for presenters, audience development, and the art of negotiating. A second track of workshops is available for performing artists with valuable information about marketing, creating effective promotional tools, performance and audition techniques and contract negotiations.

Nationally recognized panelists include Jeri Goldstein, president of the artist management and publishing company New Music Times, Inc. for 26 years and author of How to Be Your Own Booking Agent and Surale Phillips with 15 years of experience conducting market research and consulting for arts and cultural organizations across the country.  Registration for Setting the Stage is required by  October 1, 2003.  The fee is $50, and forms are available at www.artscouncil.ky.gov or by calling Heather Lyons at the Arts Council toll free at 888-833-2787 ext. 4827 or e-mail at Heather.Lyons@mail.state.ky.us.

The Kentucky Arts Council has been key to creating a thriving environment for artistic creation and making the arts more accessible to the people of Kentucky, through grants and services to arts organizations, schools, community groups, local governments, and individual artists.  The Arts Council is a state agency in the Education, Arts and Humanities Cabinet, established in 1965 by the Kentucky General Assembly to develop and promote support for the arts in Kentucky.

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