FRANKFORT, Ky. — The next session of the Kentucky Community Scholars Program will begin later this month in Paris, Ky., and is open to anyone interested in being trained in documentation, interpretation and dissemination of unique local cultural resources and traditional art forms.

Community Scholars is a program of the Kentucky Arts Council. The program consists of six training sessions and occurs twice a year in different communities across the state. Certification as a community scholar opens up opportunities for future research projects.

"Community Scholars learn to use oral history and folklife fieldwork to document traditions and culture," said Lori Meadows, arts council executive director. "The arts council is glad to have the opportunity to offer the training and expand the state’s list of certified community scholars."

Community Scholars participants learn interviewing and photography techniques, research methods, methods of presenting cultural resources, archiving, grant-writing and project development. Participants will also begin research for a project about the folklife or history of their community.

The sessions will be from 6–9 p.m. for six consecutive Mondays starting Oct. 29 and running through Dec. 3 at the Paris-Bourbon County Public Library, 701 High St., Paris.

Graduates of the training are certified as Kentucky Community Scholars, a title recognized by several state and federal grant programs, and part of a network of more than 150 Community Scholars across the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

A public presentation with information for anyone interested in the program will be 6–7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 in the community room at the library. Mark Brown, Kentucky Arts Council folk arts program director, will interview Kentucky Folklife Program founder Bob Gates, photographer Bobby Shiflet, and a local folk musician about a recent folklife project that documented gospel music traditions in the area. Video and photos from this project will be on display. The public is invited to attend.

For more information about the Community Scholars program, contact Mark Brown at 502-564-3757, ext. 495, or via e-mail at mark.brown@ky.gov.

The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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