Ed Lawrence

Public Information Officer

(502) 564-9746

Governor Ernie Fletcher has appointed four new members to the governing board of the Kentucky Arts Council.  Todd P. Lowe, Louisville; Retha Carol Tarter, Madisonville; Kelly G. Knight, Lexington; and Randall C. Vaughn, Lexington will serve a regular four-year term expiring February 1, 2009.

Todd Lowe, founder and president of the investment and advisory firm Parthenon LLC brings a wealth of professional and arts advisory experience to the table. Lowe has served as Treasurer for the Executive Committee of the Southern Arts Federation, President of the Board of Directors for Actors Theatre of Louisville and President of the Board of Directors of Kentucky Citizens for the Arts and was on the Executive Committee for the Cultural Blueprint for Metro Louisville.  Lowe is also a professional musician. Lowe replaces Thomas H. Bonny, Irvine, whose term has expired.

Retha Tarter has been instrumental to the success of the Glema Mahr Center for the Arts as Ticket Services and Volunteer Coordinator since 1996.  The volunteer program that she has built with over 200 volunteers in service is esteemed as a national model. Most recently she and Glema Mahr Director Brad Downall led the panel discussion, “Volunteerism: Backbone of Rural Arts” for performing arts presenters from around the country at the Performing Arts Exchange Conference in Pittsburgh.  Tarter is also active in the Madisonville Community and Technical College Lions Club and the Madisonville Professional Women’s Club. Tarter replaces Roanne Victor, whose term has expired.

Architect Randall Vaughn is the Design Studio Leader for Automotive/Manufacturing in the Architectural Engineering Department of James N. Gray Company. He currently serves on the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Planning Commission, Governor’s School for the Arts Advisory Committee and is a past board member of the Bluegrass Trust for Historic Preservation and the Actor’s Guild of Lexington.  Vaughn is actively involved with the American Institute of Architects East Kentucky Chapter and has served in the past as president and board member. Past community service includes mentoring and volunteer work with the YMCA Black Achiever Youth Program, Brother’s Program Community Action Council, Bluegrass–Aspendale Teen Center and other youth oriented programs. Vaughn replaces Mary Michael Corbett, Louisville, whose term has expired.

Lexington’s Kelly G. Knight has been very active in civic, arts and cultural activities as well as charitable causes.  Knight is a long-standing Lexington Philharmonic board member and chaired the Philharmonic Ball in 2000.  She is a committee member for “Art in Bloom,” at the University of Kentucky Art Museum and has also served on the Kentucky Center for the Arts 20^th Anniversary Gala Committee.  Most recently, Knight co-founded the “With One Heart” foundation to build orphanages for the children in Sri Lanka left in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami. Knight replaces Pamela Papka Sexton whose term has expired.

           The authority of the Kentucky Arts Council is vested in a volunteer citizen board of 16 members appointed to four-year rotating terms by the Governor. Council members meet regularly in sessions open to the public to set policy and approve expenditures. Current board members are Robert E. Gable, Chair, Frankfort; Everett D. McCorvey, Vice Chair, Lexington; Stephanie C. Bateman, Louisville; Nancy S. Cooper, Fort Thomas; Jean Dorton, Paintsville; Paul E. Fourshee, Cadiz; Kelly G. Knight, Lexington; Todd Lowe, Louisville; Jo G. Marshall, Somerset; Ann Duggins Schell, Louisville; Gregory S. Shumate, Fort Mitchell; Kathleen Smith, Louisville; Retha Tarter, Madisonville; Janrose Tunnell, Richmond; Randall C. Vaughn, Lexington and James R. Voyles, Louisville.

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The Kentucky Arts Council is a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet.  Working in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, 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.