Kentucky Historical Society
Spend “A Day at the Creek” with the Kentucky Historical Society

FRANKFORT, KY. (Aug. 5, 2009)— Museum guests will experience “A Day at the Creek” with instructors and musicians from Cowan Creek Mountain Music School (CCMS) on Saturday, Aug. 8 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in downtown Frankfort.

This story-to-song workshop is the second in a series of three instrument workshops related to “Made to be Played: Traditional Art of Kentucky Luthiers,” an exhibition dedicated to showcasing the art of people who make or repair stringed instruments. The exhibition is presented by the Kentucky Folklife Program, a partnership of the Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky Arts Council.

During the hour-long workshop, guests will be invited to join the fun with an introductory lesson. Patrons are encouraged to bring their own stringed instruments. This hands-on event is appropriate for all ages.

The centerpiece of the Cowan Community Center’s arts programming, CCMS is a week of intensive instruction in traditional fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, singing, square dancing and storytelling for adults and youth, ages 11 and up. The 2009 camp was held June 22-26 in Whitesburg, Ky.

In addition to the hands-on workshops, a masters concert series also accompanies the exhibition. The Banjo Masters Concert will be held on Friday, Aug. 14.

“Made to be Played” features the rich and fascinating history of Kentucky luthiers—people who make or repair stringed instruments—and tells the stories of Kentucky master luthiers and their handcrafted guitars, fiddles, banjos, mandolins, dulcimers and other original stringed instruments. The exhibition will remain on display until closing festivities on Sept. 26.

Admission, which includes all exhibitions on the Kentucky Historical Society history campus, is $4 for adults, $2 for youth (6-18), and complimentary for children five and under. KHS members receive complimentary admission.

“Made to be Played” was developed through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and is on display thanks to the generosity of the Dupree family, in memory of Clara Galtney Dupree. The exhibition is dedicated to the memory of Homer Ledford, a Kentucky luthier and musician who was renowned for the quality, beauty, and uniqueness of his works.

To find out more about programming and artifacts related to “Made to be Played,” visit www.history.ky.gov/luthiers. 

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An agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, the Kentucky Historical Society, since 1836, has provided connections to the past, perspective on the present and inspiration for the future. KHS operates the Old State Capitol, the Kentucky Military History Museum and its headquarters, the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History.  Since 1999, the thirty-million-dollar Center has welcomed more than one million visitors. For more information about the Kentucky Historical Society and its programs, visit the Web site at www.history.ky.gov.