Frankfort, KY.,  Kentucky residents interested in building their craft businesses to a wholesale level have the opportunity to become juried participants of the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program (KCMP). The Program's annual jury session is scheduled for June 7-11, 2004, and is open to all Kentucky residents creating traditional and contemporary crafts in ceramics, fiber, glass, metal, wood, mixed media, or other natural materials. Evaluation is based on quality standards for originality/authenticity, technique, and design.

Once participants are accepted into the juried portion of the Craft Marketing Program, they have an opportunity to participate in wholesale and retail venues, such as the New York International Gift Fair; Kentucky Crafted: The Market; the Governor’s Derby Breakfast; and The Kentucky Collection. Participants also may use the “Kentucky Crafted” logo, attend educational workshops, exhibit at the Capitol, and receive advanced technical assistance for their business and craft. Many new state government craft initiatives recently developed in Kentucky continue to demand high-quality work from Kentucky artists.

For the first time, applicants will be able to visit www.kycraft.ky.gov to fill out an application online, print on their home computer, and submit with their entry. The applications, and detailed instructions, will be available on-line on April 1st.  Persons without a home computer may use a computer at their local library, or contact the KCMP office to request a printed application.

Jury applicants whose scores fall a few points below the qualifying score may become eligible for the jury Mentor Program.  Those applicants will be referred to KCMP juried participants who will aid them in understanding how to bring their work to the standards required by the KCMP. Applicants successfully completing the Mentor Program will be accepted into the juried portion of the KCMP and granted all the benefits therein, without having to wait an additional year to rejury. During the mentor process, the applicants in the mentor program will be required to attend the KCMP wholesaling workshop and the Market orientation.

Applicants must provide five product samples for each entry submitted. The entry fee is $20, regardless of the number of entries.  Samples may be mailed in advance, or hand-delivered. The deadline for mailed entries is Wednesday, June 2, 2004. Hand delivered samples may be dropped off ONLY on Monday, June 7 (9am - 3:30pm, EDT) and picked up ONLY on Friday, June 11 (1pm - 3:30pm EDT). The jury process will again be held in the Farmhand Dudgeon Civic Center, 405 Mero Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Meeting Rooms A, B, & C.

For additional information on the jury process and to request an application, please contact Charla Reed, Education & Outreach, 888/KYCRAFT (592-7238), ext. 4815; email, charla.reed@ky.gov; or visit: www.kycraft.ky.gov.

The Kentucky Craft Marketing Program is a state agency in the Kentucky Arts Council, Commerce Cabinet, Commonwealth of Kentucky.  For more information, call 888 KY CRAFT (592-7238) ext. 4801; or visit the Program's site at www.kycraft.ky.gov.