Arts Council
Arts Council Awards Arts Grants to Strengthen Kentucky Communities
FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Arts Council awarded $82,350 in Arts Build Communities Grants for community arts projects to take place between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008. “These competitive grants encourage partnerships between organizations and artists to contribute to the social, educational and economic growth of communities through the arts,” said Lori Meadows, executive director of the council.
An example of one of the projects selected for this grant introduced the Louisville community to the stories of adult and youth refugees who have come to the United States as victims of warfare or other forms of persecution. On July 1, 2007, Kentucky Refugee Ministries, Inc. and jazz pianist Harry Pickens led the World Refugee Day Community Choir in a public performance in honor of World Refugee Day 2007. The personal testimonies of ministry clients inspired Pickens’ composition of original songs and narrative for the concert.
The welcome that refugees have discovered in Louisville was echoed in the inclusion of both refugees and longtime community residents in the over 100-member chorus. One participant in the performance said, “I really enjoyed learning about the work of Kentucky Refugee Ministries, meeting members of our refugee community and hearing their stories, and also connecting with other global-minded, creative, musical residents in Kentuckiana!”
Kentucky Refugee Ministries Director Carol Young commented, “The partnerships with KAC and Harry were critical for this project. It was an incredible process for Harry to get to know the refugees and include their stories in his songs…KAC provided the venue for KRM to communicate with people of various sectors and to bridge the divide between refugees and our community at large.”
The next deadline for organizations to apply for the Arts Build Communities grant is February 1, 2008 for activities to take place between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009. For further information about the Arts Build Communities grant program, contact: Program Branch Manager Chris Cathers toll free at 888-833-2787 or Christopher.Cathers@ky.gov.
The Kentucky Arts Council is a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet that creates opportunities for Kentuckians through the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.
NOTE TO EDITORS: FY2008 Arts Build Communities grant recipients are listed below by county, with a brief synopsis and contact information.
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The Arts Council 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.
Arts Build Communities Grants
COUNTY APPLICANT AMOUNT
Boyd Univ. of KY- Boyd Co. Cooperative Extension Service $5,000
The University of Kentucky-Boyd County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with local mural artist Denise Spaulding who will lead a team in painting a mural of the community’s most famous historic quilt, Elizabeth Roseberry Mitchell’s Graveyard Quilt top, along with presenting a series of workshops on preserving and restoring family quilts. The community has been involved in the Quilt Trail Project, a multi-state initiative to honor the quilting tradition and promote cultural tourism by painting quilt square murals on barns and other structures. This phase will immerse community residents in the history of the community through the visual arts.
Contact: Kyle Robinson, County Extension Agent
Skrobi2@uky.edu
606-739-5184
Daviess International Bluegrass Music Museum $5,000
International Bluegrass Music Museum will partner with Randy and Barry Lanham in planning, creating, and producing a new musical, “Music in Motion” which traces the evolution of bluegrass music and its companion style of dance. This 45-minute production of music and dance will feature a trio of professional bluegrass musicians and a quartet of American cloggers. “Music in Motion” will be presented to 22 schools in Daviess, McClean, Hancock, Ohio, and Henderson counties, culminating with a performance at ROMP, a three-day bluegrass festival sponsored by IBMM, in June 2008.
Contact: Gabriella Gray, Executive Director
gabriellegray@bluegrass.museum.org
270-926-7891
Fayette Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning $5,000
The Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning presents “New Books by Great Writers,” a literary series featuring 6-8 authors of excellent literary quality who have recently published a new book. In addition to a public reading and book signing, other events include writing workshops, outreach events, writer mentoring, and “The Eclectic Living Room,” an informal session devoted to hands-on discussion of the featured author’s work. Poet Leatha Kendrick will coordinate the upcoming events.
Contact: Jennifer Mattox, Development Director
jmattox@carnegieliteracy.org
859-254-4175
Fayette Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras $5,000
The Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras will partner with grand master fiddle champion Daniel Carwile to present lecture demonstrations on fiddle music performance and education to two local middle schools along with workshops with each of their three orchestras. “Appalachian Roots: Country Fiddling” will focus on bluegrass/fiddle music, teaching students fiddle style, technique, and cultural context that will culminate with a concert to be held in March 2008. The students that learn to perform will also serve as mentors for children through the after-school program called “Friends in Music,” offering free private instruction to children who cannot afford lessons.
Contact: Penny Mazur, Office Manager
ckyo@ckyo.org
859-254-0796
Fayette The Living Arts & Science Center $4,000
The Living Arts and Science Center with partner with artists Michael Maxon, Gerard Masse and others from the Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum along with local community organizations and community members to design and create a public, outdoor artwork that will be permanently installed on the grounds of the center. This will provide an opportunity for the community to be involved in the conceptualization and creation of metal artwork, hands-on experience through a public iron “pour” and installation of the work on Family Fun Day.
Contact: Stacey Chinn, Gallery Director
schinn@lasclex.org
859-252-5222
Franklin Frankfort Arts Foundation $3,510
The Frankfort Arts Foundation will partner with the Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce and Kentucky State University to present Great Community Gospel, consisting of public performances by four artists/artist groups on March 22, 2008. These groups, including Kenny Bishop, No Tools Loaned, Kentucky State University Gospel Ensemble, and Capital City Chorale, will perform at Kentucky State University’s Bradford Hall, Bondurant Middle School, Farm City Day, Ashwood Place, The Neighborhood, and/or Bradford Square retirement and nursing homes. Also presented will be a community master class with one or more of the artists.
Contact: Patricia Terry Vansant, Executive Director
faf@dcr.net
502-875-4278
Franklin Kentucky Storytelling Association, Inc. $3,200
The Kentucky Storytelling Association, Inc. partnered with theatre director Kathi Ellis and Knowledge Center on Deafness to create the 4th Kentucky Storytelling Conference at Dale Hollow State Park on November 2-3, 2007. This consisted of a story swap and 12-hour conference which included workshops. These events were deaf-friendly, not just accessible.
Contact: Mary Hamilton
info@kystory.org
502-223-4523
Jefferson Arts Council of Louisville, Inc. & Gregory Acker $5,000
The Arts Council of Louisville, Inc. and Gregory Acker will partner with Jefferson Community and Technical College, Americana Community Center and Arcadia Community Center to present Sound Community, a series of artists’ workshops and arts programming that provide hands-on arts opportunities for creative expression by community members. It offers inclusive, culture-based arts instruction and cross-disciplinary options to students/participants, using the arts as a common language of shared discovery and self-expression. Sound Community will produce informal public performances, installations/displays, on-going residency activities, and community-wide celebrations.
Contact: Gregory Acker
GAcker@aol.com
502-585-5134
Jefferson Creative Diversity Studio, Inc. $5,000
The Creative Diversity Studio, Inc. will present “Visual Jam,” which will bring in professional artists to the studio to “jam” with artists/people with disabilities to learn and develop skills and produce better art. Led by acrylic artist Iandras Moontree, it is a parallel to musicians in a jam session, which will allow the artists to learn from one another’s technique, rhythm and balance. While building on previous sessions to develop skills in acrylic, the artists will get a sense of what is marketable in the current arts climate. One collaborative piece and a number of individual pieces should develop out of this project, which will be exhibited at Creative Diversity Studio in June 2008.
Contact: Amy Marlatt, Executive Director
amy@creativediversity.org
502-235-9027
Jefferson Kentucky Refugee Ministries, Inc. $3,640
Kentucky Refugee Ministries partnered with renowned Louisville-based jazz pianist Harry Pickens to perform a public concert in Louisville on July 1, 2007 as part of a series of public events held in observance of World Refugee Day 2007. The concert’s composition and narrative were inspired by the testimonies of the ministry’s youth and refugee clients. 100 members of the World Refugee Day Community Choir, including youth and adult refugees from many parts of the world, participated in the performance.
Contact: Carol Young, Director
cyoung@kyrm.org
502-479-9180
Jefferson La Casita Center $3,000
The La Casita Center partnered with theatre artist Trina Fischer to collaborate on a family retreat, leading to the creation of a short dramatic work that was presented at the 10th Anniversary Festival at Casa Latina and the Chapel of St. Philip. This family retreat offered Latina women in Louisville the opportunity to explore and dramatize their stories of immigration. The project also provided new opportunities for dialogue and problem-solving for immigrant families who have struggled with their cultural identities.
Contact: Christina (Trina) Fischer
trina@lookingforlilith.org
347-228-6438
Jefferson Portland Museum. Inc. $5,000
The Portland Museum, Inc. will bring Director and Actor Jon Huffman in contact with community storytellers to create a professionally staged performance. This is an ongoing project that builds on all of Portland’s creative work, shaping performances by local residents into an amazing piece that will enrich every audience.
Contact: Erin Gerrity
egerrity@iglou.com
502-776-7678
Kenton Center for Great Neighborhoods of Covington $5,000
The Center for Great Neighborhoods of Covington (CGN) partnered with Friends of Peaselburg Neighborhood Association, Glenn O. Swing Family Resource Center and artists Ron Einhaus and Christian Schmit to produce ten, two-sided, original banners that will be on permanent display on West 19th Street in Covington, Kentucky in the Peaselburg neighborhood, raising neighborhood identity. The goals of the project are to deepen Peaselburg resident’s understanding of their cultural heritage, increase community pride and create a shared vision of the neighborhood’s future.
Contact: Jean St. John, Director of Community Arts Initiatives
jean@greatneighborhoods.org
859-491-2220
Knox Union College $5,000
Union College (UC@BC staff) will partner with Laurel County Drug Court and artists Judy Sizemore, Vickie Nicholson, Alfredo Escobar, and Mitch Barrett to present “Art Heals for Drug Court Clients.” In this 18-month program, Drug Court clients are given the opportunity to learn more about themselves and to express themselves through poetry and painting. The artists will conduct workshops and guide participants through creative processes, guided by the needs, wants and abilities of the participants.
Contact: Mona Powell, Coordinator of Programs
mpowell@unionky.edu
606-546-1683
Letcher Cowan Community Action Group, Inc. $5,000
The Cowen Community Action Group, Inc. will host It’s About Time, a project for middle-aged Appalachian women led by four female artists in various disciplines: Anne Shelby (literature), Mimi Pickering (film), Pam Meade (visual art) and Angelyn DeBord (storytelling and theatre arts). Through a year-long process of artist presentations and workshops, the project will enable participating women to develop a performance piece, visual art exhibitions, and a series of story-based radio and video vignettes describing life in rural Appalachian Kentucky from a female perspective. The overall goal of It’s About Time is to give Appalachian women, who are often unheard and unnoticed, a voice.
Contact: Nell Fields, Program Director
nellfields@tvscable.com
606-633-3187
Madison Berea Arts Council, Inc. $5,000
The Berea Arts Council, Inc. will plan and produce a Walk with the Arts in the spring of 2008. Twelve local artisans, set up in mobile studios in Berea’s Indian Fort Theater, will provide 1,200 school children with the opportunity to view each artist in the process of art-making. The Berea Arts Council hopes to make this project an annual school-year event.
Contact: Gwen Childs, Executive Director
bac@bereaartscouncil.org
859-985-9317
Monroe Monroe County Economic Development Board, Inc. $5,000
The Monroe County Economic Development Board, Inc. along with local theatre artist Peggy Holbrook will lead the Monroe County Youth Theatre Program, consisting of three free theatre workshops for students from kindergarten to age 21, each culminating in student-created productions. School-day performances will be open to the Monroe County School System and adjoining counties as well the general public.
Contact: Kathy Grace
kgrace@monroe.kyschools.us
270-487-6181
Shelby Shelby County Community Theatre $5,000
The Shelby County Community Theatre partnered with local playwright Daniel Nation to bring to the Clear Creek Amphitheatre Squire Boone: Carved in Stone, a full-length drama providing both a historical and artistic perspective on the formation of Kentucky through the eyes of one of its most uncelebrated founders, Squire Boone. The community was encouraged to participate in workshops focusing on the play script and to provide suggestions and ideas for revisions.
Contact: Stephanie Sorrell, Project Coordinator
stephsorrell@paperlessclassroom.org
502-829-0142