FRANKFORT, Ky. — Six Kentucky literary artists and one musical composer have been awarded $1,000 each as recipients of the Kentucky Arts Council Emerging Artist Award program, the agency announced today.

Emerging Artist Awards are given to emerging professional artists in the early stages of their work – up to 10 years – who demonstrate a high level of excellence and creativity. Emerging artists possess some professional experience but may not yet have established reputations as artists.

The seven award recipients, chosen from a total of 32 applicants are:

• Jackie Thompson, Shepherdsville, Composing
• Frankie Finley, Lexington, Creative Nonfiction
• Tom Pierce, Louisville, Fiction
• Laura Biagi, Shelbyville, Fiction
• Thomas Olges, Louisville, Fiction
• Julie Hensley, Richmond, Poetry
• Morgan Eklund, Louisville, Poetry

“The Emerging Artist Awards give the arts council an opportunity to encourage growth among a new generation of Kentucky artists,” said the agency’s executive director, Lori Meadows. “I congratulate this year’s recipients and wish them well as they continue to build their careers.”

The selection process for the awards uses a "blind jurying" system that does not provide the selection panel with applicants' names; the panel reviews the work samples and applications according to application numbers only.

In alternate years, the Emerging Artist Awards are available to visual and media artists. The next application deadline is March 15, 2013.

For more information about the Emerging Artist Award program or other Kentucky Arts Council opportunities for artists, contact Individual Artist Program Director Tamara Coffey at tamara.coffey@ky.gov or 502-564-3757, ext. 479.

The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Note to editors: To request biographical or contact information for a specific artist, contact Emily B. Moses, Arts Council communications director, at 502-564-3757, ext. 472.

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