Arts Council
Now is the time to plan Kentucky Writers’ Day activities

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Arts Council encourages schools, libraries, writers’ groups, reading groups, senior citizen centers, community centers, faith-based organizations, colleges and universities, correctional facilities, businesses and the media to celebrate Kentucky Writers’ Day in local communities throughout the Commonwealth.

To assist groups in planning their activities, the arts council has developed a free Kentucky Writers’ Day Planning Guide, which can be downloaded at http://1.usa.gov/KWDplanguide. This guide contains suggested activities appropriate for different groups, publicity ideas and cross-promotional opportunities with the arts council to make Kentucky Writers’ Day a statewide event.

April 24 has been designated as Kentucky Writers’ Day by the Kentucky General Assembly to honor Kentucky’s strong literary tradition. The date is the anniversary of the birth of Robert Penn Warren, from Guthrie, Ky. He was the first poet laureate of the United States and the winner of three Pulitzer Prizes, with the rare distinction of winning prizes for fiction as well as poetry.

“I encourage each community to plan activities to celebrate Kentucky’s strong literary heritage and its many excellent practicing writers,” said Kentucky Poet Laureate Maureen Morehead.

The arts council will also present a Kentucky Writers’ Day celebration in the Capitol on April 24, featuring readings by Morehead and past Kentucky poets laureate, as well as a public reception to honor all Kentucky writers and a workshop entitled Funding Your Writing Habit, presented in collaboration with the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning.

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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