Ed Lawrence

Public Information Officer

Kentucky Arts Council

December 1st is the deadline for application to the Individual Artist Professional Development Grant Program.  This program funds activities for both established and emerging artists to advance their professional careers. This matching grant of up to $500 can be used in a variety of ways including fees for workshops and master classes, subsidizing travel for significant performance or exhibition opportunities, or assistance for expenses incurred in developing marketing or promotional materials. 

The Individual Artist Professional Development Program accepts applications on a biannual basis with deadlines on June 1 and December 1.  The December 1 deadline will be for activities occurring January 2005 through June 30, 2005.  Artists must be at least 18 years of age, and must have lived in Kentucky at least one year immediately prior to the grant application deadline to apply.  This program does not fund students pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees.

For complete guidelines and an application form please visit the Kentucky Arts Council Web site at artscouncil.ky.gov.  For further information about the Individual Artist Professional Development program or other programs for artists, contact Amber Luallen, Artists and Communities Program Director, toll free at 888-833-2787, ext. 4809, or amber.luallen@ky.gov.

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 $15 in earned income and matching funds from individuals, philanthropic sources and other levels of government.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: Activity descriptions for funded Individual Artist Professional Development grants in the last cycle of successful applicants are listed below.

Carla Gover, a musician from Berea, performing Appalachian musical traditions with husband in duo Zoe Speaks, attended the Americana Music conference to build contacts with DJs, presenters, record labels, managers to further her musical career.

Young Smith, a Richmond poet, playwright and fiction writer attended the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, one of the nation’s leading, most selective writers’ conference held at Middlebury College in Vermont.

David Bartlett, a fine art photographer from Morehead, to support the framing and shipping of an exhibition of photogravure prints to invitational shows by Tusculum College, Greenville, TN; Southeast Misouri Arts Council, Cape Giradeau MO; and the Earlville Opera House, Earlville, NY.

Henrietta Scott, a visual artist from Columbia, Ky., to attend a workshop in figurative sculpture led by Catherine Merrell at Appalachian Center for Craft in Smithville, TN.

Debra Hille, a visual artist from Berea, used fund to develop a strategic marketing plan and produce promotional materials and Web site.

Carolyn Courtney, a Louisville photographer, attended the National Geographic Expeditions Workshops led by Steve McCurry in Santa Fe, NM.

Stephanie Rea, a professional flutist from Murray, presented a lecture recital of solo flute repertoire at the College Music Society’s Annual Conference in San Francisco, CA.

Judy Geagley, craft artist from Tollesboro, to design and produce professional quality product line brochures for national marketing at the New York International Gift Fair.

Ann Olson, a photographer from Olive Hill, attended a weeklong workshop sponsored by FUJIFILM, studying color and composition with Alison Shaw on the coast of Maine.

Constance Alexander, a writer from Murray, to support a one month residency awarded by the Ragdale Foundation, which will enable work to proceed on a current fiction manuscript, “Thirty One Fat Ladies on a Bus.”

Steven Couch, Louisville guitarist and musician and leader of the band The Betweeners, working in Americana/Roots genre attended the Americana Music conference to showcase the band a display and design booth for trade show exhibit space.

Ryan Daly, a filmmaker from Louisville, to contribute to the production of a sound mix, negative conformation and answer print for a current 16mm project, “Make Like a Tree and Leaf.”

Fernando Moya,  a Louisvillian who grew up in Quito, Ecuador and plays traditional Andean music using a variety of traditional wind instruments used the funding to produce a Proof of Performance (POP) video to showcase his musical abilities.

Sarah Lyon,  an interdisciplinary artist from Louisville, attended the Visual Studies Workshop Institute in Rochester NY, learning how to use digital technology to produce a book.

Colin Grant -Adams, Celtic folk singer from Glasgow, Ky., attended Performing Arts Exchange, a conference for presenter artists and manager from all over the United Stateswith an emphasis on the Southern and Mid-Atlantic states.

Jennifer McLamb, a bead weaver from Lexington, for design, photography and production costs for marketing materials.