Arts Council
Kentucky Arts Council Provides Funds for Arts Build Communities Grants

Press Release Date:  Friday, July 08, 2005  
Contact Information:  Ed Lawrence
Public Information Officer
502-564-3757
Ed.Lawrence@ky.gov
 


The Kentucky Arts Council recently awarded $152,395 in Arts Build Communities Grants to encourage partnerships that contribute to the cultural, social, educational and economic growth of communities through the arts. “This grant broadens the understanding of how arts can benefit the community,” says Arts Council Executive Director Gerri Combs.

The Arts Council’s competitive Arts Build Communities grant awards are based on putting partnerships in place between organizations and artists to produce measurable benefits for the community.

One of the projects selected for this grant, uses photography to build a bridge between the Hispanic community and the greater Lexington community. Jonathon Rodgers will expand his work with the Lexicon Project, a one-year photo documentary of Lexington, to partner with La Voz Spanish language newspaper in order to afford Lexington’s Hispanic population the opportunity to document their community.

Cameras, training and 130 rolls of film will be placed in the hands of the Hispanic community. “Once you empower someone with a camera they realize that they have the ability to really reflect on their community, but then not only that, but they can show other people their community,” says Rodgers.

Two grantees, in Boyd and Greenup County, are using funds to take part in a community-based quilt block trail movement that swept through the Appalachian area and is now moving through Kentucky. Community volunteers will work together to paint 8ft. by 8ft. quilt blocks on structures and surfaces to be mounted on barns in the area. The Kentucky projects plan to maximize the community’s value of the project by developing maps and a Web site that will make the paintings easy for tourists to locate.

Another partnership that has been approved for this grant is the Williamsburg Action Team, along with Frank X. Walker, the local Appalachia Artists Guild, the Resident Council of the Housing Authority and the Whitley County Library, for a project titled Our Voices, Our Stories, Our Faces, Our Town. Several artists will work hand-in-hand with the community to incorporate their stories and ideas into the annual Roots Festival in 2006.

Frank X. Walker will be working with members of the community of all ages and backgrounds to write and present, their sentiments about growing up in Williamsburg. Artist Angelyn DeBord will use the oral histories of African Americans and the community’s remaining WWII veterans and Vietnam War veterans to form dramatic dialogs for stage performance. Local artists will create portraits of the community available in an exhibition during the festival.

 “We are hoping that more people will begin to appreciate the hidden diversity of the community, but also begin to appreciate their own artistic talents and express themselves through the arts while involving the whole community,” says Marian Colette, Chairperson of the Annual Roots Committee.

For further information about Arts Build Community grant projects funded through the Kentucky Arts Council, contact Artist and Community Arts Program Director Amber Luallen toll free at 888-833-2287 or amber.luallen@ky.gov.

 

NOTE TO EDITORS: FY2006 Arts Build Communities Grant recipients listed below.

 

Photo caption:  Two Kentucky Arts Council ABC grants will pattern themselves after the “Clothesline of Quilts” projects sweeping through Appalachia. This is the C. Earhart Barn in Bristol, TN. PHOTO: Courtesy of Appalachian RC&D Council.

 

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The Kentucky Arts Council is a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet that 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. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

 

 

Arts Build Communities Grants

COUNTY            APPLICANT                                                                               AMOUNT

 

Adair              Columbia Adair County Tourism Commission            $5,000

The Columbia/ Adair County Tourism Commission is a local board that works to promote community development, supports activities that reflect Kentucky heritage, plans family oriented cultural events and provides hospitality training for businesses. The Commission is working with seven artists to construct a public memorial sculpture that commemorates Colonel Wolford and his cavalrymen who defended this part of Kentucky during the Civil War.

Contact:             Sue C. Stivers, Director at Columbia-Adair Tourism

                        coladair@duo-county.com

                        270-384-6020

 

Boyd              Univ. of KY - Boyd County Extension Service            $7,500

The University of Kentucky – Boyd County Extension Service is partnering with community volunteers to paint 8ft. x 8ft. quilt blocks on structures and surfaces to be mounted to buildings in the region. This is part of the community-based quilt block trail movement that swept Ohio and is now moving through Kentucky. In addition to the area partnerships the project has inspired, it is expected to benefit economic growth and tourism for the region.

Contact:            Suellen Zornes, Family & Consumer Science Agent

                        szornes@uky.edu

                        606-739-5184                  

 

Clark              Winchester/Clark County Parks & Recreation            $5,000

The Winchester/ Clark County Parks and Recreation partnered with instructor Alberta Labrillazo and Leeds Center for the Arts will provide youth of Clark County with a theatre arts curriculum after a noticeable decrease in theatre opportunities for youth. Themes will be age appropriate including pantomime, clowning, games/story telling, mask making, and Books Alive!

Contact:            Donald Parsons, Director

                        wccpr@adelphia.net

                        859-744-9554

 

Clay                Big Creek/ Oneida Family Resource Center                       $2,000

The Big Creek/ Oneida Family Resource Center (FRC) is expanding their on-site painting classes at the DeWall Senior Center. The participants began in a past Arts Build Communities project entitled Mountain Visions that introduced them to painting and writing poetry through workshops. They found that within the individual paintings and poetry, many had expressed common community visions. They came up with the idea of creating murals as a common community vision for the Big Creek FRC and the DeWall Senior Center. They have named the new project Vision through Age.

Contact:            Janice Couch, FRC Coordinator

                        jcouch@clay.ky12.ky.us

                        606-598-8062

 

Cumberland            Cumberland County Arts Council                                  $4,525

Cumberland County Arts Council in collaboration with Claudia Anderson of the Cumberland Valley Fitness/ Dance Studio presents a comprehensive Youth Summer Dance Program. Children grades K-8 and their parents will be introduced to the fundamentals of classical dance forms such as ballet, jazz and lyrical. Through the course of the program children will learn about the entire process of putting on a dance recital from its conception to the final performance as their parents work in a support group to oversee the creative development of the production. The community will be invited to attend the final culmination of their work.

Contact:            Christy Korrow, President

                        Christy@lilipoh.com

                        270-864-4167

 

Daviess            International Bluegrass Museum                                $7,500

The International Bluegrass Museum in partnership with writer Randy Lanham, and help from the Marylyn and William Young Charitable Foundation and the John D’ Addario Foundation for the Performing Arts, is creating and presenting a musical based on the life and music of Bill Monroe. The musical will illustrate how Bill Monroe and others incorporated many musical styles into the genre he named “Bluegrass” after the moniker of his home state. The production will be featured in schools as an assembly program in a style that is educational, historical, entertaining and multicultural.

Contact:            Gabrielle Gray, Executive Director

                        gabriellegray@bluegrass-museum

                        270-926-7891

 

Daviess            Owensboro Museum of Fine Art                                 $4,300

            The Owensboro Museum of Fine Art with the Owensboro Public Art Commission will commission sculptors to create site-specific outdoor works for seven locations throughout the city of Owensboro. The project is designed to stimulate community awareness, appreciation and involvement in the visual environment through participation in public art forums and artist-in-residences creating work for public space.

Contact:            Mary Bryan Hood, Director

                        omfa@mindspring.com

                        270-685-3181

 

Fayette            Living Arts & Science Center                                               $2,300

The Living Arts & Science Center, artist Tripp Blanton and the Martin Luther King Neighborhood Association will work together with to provide classes, workshops, exhibits, and other activities to the Lexington community. They will begin a multidisciplinary community arts project to serve and unite the downtown Lexington area. The project includes a series of workshops in dance, African-Latin drumming, video production and printmaking. The workshops will take place in Duncan Park free to the neighborhood residents.

Contact:            Heather Lyons

                        lascheatherl@aol.com

                        859-252-5222

 

Fayette            Jonathon Rodgers                                                                    $5,000

            Jonathan Rodgers, through his project Operation Phototivity, is reaching out to empower communities to document themselves now for representation of their community and for the sake of history. Rodgers has partnered the Lexicon Project, a Lexington photo documentary project, with La Voz Spanish language newspaper for a two-month photographic outreach program that focuses on the sometimes unnoticed growth of Lexington’s Hispanic population. Photographic training, cameras and about 130 rolls of film will be placed in the hands members of the Hispanic community. After the film is developed, the photos representing the Hispanic culture in Lexington will be combined into an exhibit of photos from Lexington as a whole. Viewers of the exhibit will be encouraged to discuss their thoughts on the accuracy of the photographic representation of their community.

Contact:            Jonathan Rodgers

                        jonathan@sixfootphoto.com

                        859-514-0586

 

Fayette            Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning                   $5,000

The Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning  will host a series of literary events with the theme, “A New Kentucky Home: New Books by Great Writers” The events are is intended to spark inclusion and diversity among participants by broadening the scope of Kentucky literature to not only those who reside in the state, but those who have allowed it to inspire their writing. Various literary artists will be featured at readings, book signings, workshops and outreach events related to the writer and the writer’s work.

Contact:            Janet A. Isenhour, Executive Director

                        jisenhour@carnegieliteracy.org

                        859-254-4175

 

Franklin            Frankfort Arts Foundation                                      $4,970

The Frankfort Arts Foundation, musician Roy Nance and area choirs will present a Celebration of Music for Black History Month. Through many partnerships the celebration will consist of public performances by the First United Methodist Church and the St. John A.M.E. Church; Stephen Foster Story vocalists, Annie and Ed Bolden; a jazz workshop for middle school students and an exhibit of elementary school artwork entitled Building Our Community Through Music.

Contact:            Patricia Terry Vansant, Executive Director

                        faf@dcr.net

                        502-875-4278

 

Franklin            Mary Hamilton                                                                   $2,500

The Knowledge Center on Deafness Inc., Mary Hamilton, the Kentucky Storytelling Association and others will collaborate on a storytelling conference that is not just accessible, but truly deaf-friendly. A shared love of the art of storytelling brings together story telling event organizers, deaf and hearing storytellers, and deaf and hearing audiences.

Contact:            Mary Hamilton

                        mary@maryhamilton.info

                        502-223-4523

 

Greenup            Greenup County Tourism Commission                        $3,000

The Greenup County Tourism Commission is bringing the Clothesline of Quilts in Appalachia project to the Greenup area to promote tourism. Donna Groves in Ohio originally started the Clothesline of Quilts in Appalachia project after moving into a rural farm with a tobacco barn. Her mother, an avid quilter, had a favorite quilt square and proceeded to paint the square on her barn. From there, barn after barn and even sides of houses and buildings in the area began to do the same and it developed into a tourist attraction that many come to see. Greenup will provide brochures with maps marking the quilt squares and the statewide Resource and Cultural Development group plans to create a statewide website that will list the quilt projects in every county in Kentucky.

Contact:            Cary Q. Lyle, Tourism Commissioner

                        Caryq.lyle@ky.gov

                        606-473-7324

 

Jefferson            Squallis Puppeteers                                                   $5,000

            The Squallis Puppeteers with the help of theatrical costume design artist, Amy Berry, will create a street theatre with parades and outdoor performances for their community. They have done large festival style puppets in the past, but never with a theme or story. A project team will theme, design and construct puppets while artists with theatre, dance, lighting, musicians and choreography skills will be brought in to maximize the full potential for showcasing the Squallis community’s contribution to the larger community.

Contact:            Nora Christensen or Jess Myers Co-Executive Directors

                        squallispuppeteers@yahoo.com

                        502-540-4977

 

Jefferson            Boys & Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana                                    $4,800

            The Boys and Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana will connect children with their community through a Historic Mosaic Project. This is based on the idea that individuals will invest in and have a greater respect in their community if they contribute to the community. The club members will work with an artist to construct four large-scale ceramic mosaic wall pieces.

Contact:            Edward S. Carle

                        bgclubs@bellsouth.net

                        502-585-5437

 

Jefferson            Gregory Acker                                                                    $7,500

            Community Arts: College, Center, Council is a collaborative project between Americana Community Center, Jefferson Community College, the Louisville Arts Council, and artist Gregory Acker. The project will provide hands-on arts opportunities for creative expression by community members through artist led workshop activities and through collaborative arts programming with other community-based artists and arts groups working within these communities. The project will focus on culture-based arts instruction and cross-disciplinary collaborative opportunities.

Contact:            Gregory Acker

Gacker@aol.com

                        502-585-5134

                       

Jefferson            Kentucky Psychological Association Foundation            $7,500

The Kentucky Psychological Association Foundation is currently working on a project that integrates public education with public art to engage the community in discovery of important mental health information. The name of this citywide project is Heads Up Kentucky! The grant will be used to take the message of the public art project to children in grades K-5 in public and Catholic schools in Jefferson County through visual and performing arts.

Contact:            Nancy Gordon Moore, Ph.D., Executive Director

                        kpa@kpa.org

                        502-894-0777

 

Jefferson            Portland Museum, Inc.                                                     $5,000

The Portland Museum, in conjunction with local artists, has created a program entitled Documenting Portland’s Architecture for a Future Worth Preserving. Through the course of this program inner city high school students will learn about their architectural heritage and work with professional photographer David Modica to identify and document a variety of architectural styles and elements in the historic Portland neighborhood. The students’ work will be compiled into an electronic database to be used by a planning Task Force as it considers how to create architectural guidelines for neighborhood preservation.

Contact:            Nathalie T. Andrews, Executive Director

                        pmuse@iglou.com

                        502-776-7678

 

Jefferson            Creative Diversity Studio, Inc.                                       $4,000

            Creative Diversity Studio contributes to the advancement of artists with disabilities in a professional studio environment. The Inclusive Art Project is designed to bring more professional artists to the studio for collaborative sessions with Creative Diversity participants. The project will focus on increasing the interaction of artists with disabilities with non-disabled, professional artists. The artists’ work will be displayed at businesses and art venues citywide generating revenue, pride and awareness.

Contact:            Amy F. Marlatt

                        amy@creativediversity.org

                        502-584-1239

 

Kenton            Sanitation District No. 1                                                  $5,000

The Sanitation District has partnered with local school districts, developed and implemented an award-winning environmental education unit. The program, however, is missing an art component and will incorporate interactive art activities and lessons into the District’s Environmental Unit, to empower students to use art as a learning and teaching resource.

Contact:            Jeff Eger, General Manager

                        jeger@sd1.org

                        859-578-7450

 

Kenton            Covington Partners in Prevention                           $5,000

            The Covington Partners in Prevention and drum instructor Jason Wagner will coordinate a two-day a week after school program for students in grades 4 through 7 entitled Drumming Free. It provides youth with positive artistic experiences that they will be able to use not only as a foundation towards a musically inclined future but also as alternatives to activities that are not beneficial to their health or future.

Contact:            Janis Wilkerson

                        jwilkerson@covington.ky2.ky.us

                        859-392-3182

           

Kenton            Renaissance Covington                                                    $7,500

Renaissance Covington is a nonprofit organization working to revitalize the downtown urban core of Covington. They have planned a Millennium Mosaic project where artists will design and install tile work for the sidewalks in downtown Covington in addition to a low seat wall that will border benches already in place. Much of the work will be done on site so the community can observe the work in progress.

Contact:             Kathie Hickey

                        khickey@covingtonky.gov

                        859-292-2166

 

Knott              LKLP Head Start                                                                $7,500

Leslie, Knott, Letcher, and Perry counties Head Start (LKLP Head Start) is partnering through the arts with Eastern Kentucky Investigates (EKY Investigates), to address community drug issues. Artists are leading monthly workshops for Head Start staff, exploring their responses and developing performance based skills to deal with parents and families affected by addiction. The workshops will culminate in public performances and forums that center on the creation of safe and open dialogue regarding the realities of drug abuse and treatment options in the area.

Contact:            Aleece Jones, Program Director

                        a.jones@lklp.net

                        606-642-3317

 

Madison            Kentucky Guild of Artists & Craftsmen                $5,000

The Kentucky Guild of Artists & Craftsmen will work to provide a support base for Berea’s studio artists while aiming to attract more tourists to artist studios and enrich their experiences through solid scholarship. The project will include architectural consultation to make studios more accessible and safer for visiting guests of all ages. Ultimately they seek to facilitate a progressive tour that will elaborate the cultural context for the art and allow the public a better understanding of the artists and the art forms within an interactive environment where the visitor can become a part of the process.

Contact:            Jessica Hartman, Executive Director

                        jhartman@kyguild.org

                        859-986-3192

 

Madison            Folk Circle Association                                                  $5,000

The Folk Circle Association and the City of Berea are working together to present the ArteVida International Folk Festival. This is the sixth ArteVida event and tourism is continuing to grow for this event. Through the integration of multicultural activities, the association hopes to draw in sections of the community that do not normally attend arts events.

Contact:            Theresa Lowder, President

                        theresalowder@berea.edu

                        859-986-8777

 

Madison            Richmond Area Arts Council                                     $5,000

The Richmond Area Arts Council, in partnership with Pat Banks is developing a marketing theme that will campaign for area residents to participate in the arts. Through collaboration, leading artists and presenting organizations in northern Madison County hope to overcome public relations budget obstacles that they face as individual entities.

Contact:            Marie Fore

                        director@artsinrichmond.com

                        859-642-4242

 

Monroe            Monroe County Economic                                         $5,000

 Development Board, Inc.  

Monroe County will be welcomed to four plays performed by the Monroe County Youth Theatre Program. The development of this project will be from the Monroe County Economic Development Board, the Monroe County Board of Education, local theatre artist Peggy Holbrook, and other coordinators. It will consist of two free theatre workshops, six weeks each, culminating in the performance that will benefit the youth involved, parents and the community.

Contact:            Meda Burnette, Executive Director

                        monroemoney@centernetwork.net

                        270-487-1314

 

Oldham            Susana B. Williams                                                        $5,000

Susana B. Williams, Director of Dance-Forms Productions, in partnership with Dance! Kentucky has developed a dance project named “The Blue Grass State International Dance Festival.” The festival will enhance partnerships between dance artists, statewide dance communities, civic organizations, and business communities from Louisville and Oldham County. It will feature international dance groups, choreographers, conferences, workshops, master classes for educators, exhibitions, performances, and a market place.

Contact:            Susana B. Williams

                        danceformspro@aol.com

                        502-222-2273

 

Pike                Artists Collaborative Theatre                                          $5,000

The Artists Collaborative Theatre will produce and perform real-life stories as told by residents of the community and record them to audiotape. This celebration of the cultural heritage of the area will not only instill pride in the residents but also provide a positive learning experience for local participating artists. Over 2000 pages of stories form approximately 75 individuals have been collected thus far by the Elkhorn City Area Heritage Council to preserve the area’s cultural heritage.

Contact:            Stephanie Richards, Artistic Director & CEO

                        Stephanie.Richards@uky.edu

                        606-754-4228

 

Whitley            Williamsburg Action Team                                                $5,000

The Williamsburg Action Team is a non-profit organization whose mission is to revitalize the Williamsburg community by making arts and cultural activities more accessible to residents. Through its Roots and Oral History Committees it will partner with Frank X. Walker, the local Appalachia Artists Guild, the Resident Council of the Housing Authority and the Whitley County Library to engage students and diverse groups of community residents with artists in writing poetry about their life experiences in creating self-portraits to form a community self-portrait and developing a performance based on the oral histories of African Americans.

Contact:            Marian E. Colette

                        mcolettemacon@yahoo.com

                        606-549-4977

                       

TOTAL                                                                                                         $152,395

 

 



 

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