Craft Marketing Program
Kentucky Crafted: the Market 2006 Flying High on Southwest Airlines

News about Kentucky Crafted: The Market 2006 is flying high on Southwest Airlines. Thanks to Spirit Magazine, published by the airline, subscribers and passengers will be introduced to this award winning craft market in the March issue. Circulation for each issue is 411,192 magazines with 2,899,000 readers per issue. South West flies 441 jets to 62 cities in 32 states with 3000 plus flights per day and averages 194,246 passengers a day.

The Kentucky Craft Marketing Program, a division of the Kentucky Arts Council, a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet, has produced this award-winning annual Kentucky handcrafted gift market since 1982. Based on reader nominations from a national on-line survey, American Style Magazine selected Kentucky Crafted: The Market as one of the Top 25 Art Fairs and Festivals in the country in 2004 and the Southeast Tourism Society has named Kentucky Crafted: The Market as one of the Top Twenty Events in The Southeast for the twelfth time.

Nearly 300 exhibitors of fine traditional, folk and contemporary crafts, two-dimensional visual art, musical recordings, books, and food products are expected to participate in the 2006 Market. Kentucky cultural entertainment and children’s craft activities (ages 4-12) will also be included.

The doors will open to the general public on March 4 and 5 at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, South Wing B, Louisville, Kentucky.

Through Kentucky production and sales the craft industry contributes 252 million dollars to the state’s economy.  An additional impact of 147 million dollars is realized through sales made outside of Kentucky. The Market is a collaborative effort among several state agencies and cabinets, which promote Kentucky’s rich cultural heritage while supporting the state’s economy and generates 2 to 3 million dollars in direct sales.

The Market is produced by the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program, a division of the Kentucky Arts Council, a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet. For more information, call 888-KYCRAFT (592-7238), local (502) 564-3757, or visit our web site at: www.kycraft.ky.gov.

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Since 1981, the Craft Marketing Program's mission is to develop the state's craft industry, support and empower Kentucky artisans and craftspeople, create an economically viable environment for craft entrepreneurs, preserve the state's craft traditions, stimulate and support product development, and generate public awareness, public support and public/private partnerships.

The Program provides assistance to Kentucky residents, individuals, or groups wanting to develop as craft professionals through economic opportunities and training, to other outside entities (e.g., craft retailers, craft and art organizations, community and government agencies), and the general public. The craft industry in Kentucky contributes 252 million dollars in annual sales and Kentucky is recognized as a model state for its craft programs and its role in the $14 billion national craft industry.