Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea
Kentucky Artisan Center Named in USA Today’s 10 Great Places to Shop for Crafts

The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea was the first of ten craft galleries in the United States included in a “10 Great Places to Shop at Crafts Galleries” feature article in the Dec. 9 weekend edition of USA Today.

When Wendy Rosen, editor of American Style magazine, was asked to share some favorite shops with USA Today’s Larry Bleiberg, first on her list was the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea, a state agency in the Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Rosen spoke of Kentucky’s championing of its state’s crafts, beginning with former Kentucky First Lady Phyllis George’s work. The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea was the site selected for the recent announcement of Governor Steve Beshear’s proclamation of December 2012 as “Give a Gift Made in Kentucky Month.”

Other Centers included in this list of national best were Tamarack, in Beckley, W.Va.; Oregon College of Arts and Crafts, Portland Ore.; Volcano Art Center Gallery, Volcano, Hawaii; Heartwood, Abingdon, Va.; Illinois Artisans Shop, Chicago; Mississippi Crafts Center Gallery, Ridgeland, Miss.; The Art Studios at Spanish Village Art Center, San Diego, Calif.; Indian Pueblo Center, Albuquerque, N.M.; and Center for Maine Craft Gallery, West Gardiner, Maine.

Located at 200 Artisan Way, just off Interstate 75 at exit 77 (Berea). The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea displays and sells crafts, other artwork, specialty food products, music and books, all the work of more than 650 Kentucky artisans. The center’s exhibits, shopping and travel information areas are all open daily from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. and the cafe from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Admission is free.  For more information call 859-985-5448 or visit the center’s website at www.kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov.