|
Craft Marketing Program
Kentucky Crafted: The Market Named America’s Favorite Art Fair and Festival
AmericanStyle magazine readers’ poll has revealed America’s favorite art fairs and festivals and Kentucky Crafted: The Market won the top spot this year.
AmericanStyle magazine is the nation’s premier arts lifestyle magazine for art collectors, enthusiasts and travelers. Published bi-monthly, AmericanStyle can be found online at www.AmericanStyle.com and on newsstands nationwide. AmericanStyle was named Baltimore’s Best Niche Magazine by Baltimore magazine in 2003.
Ballots appeared in the October 2006 issue and on www.AmericanStyle.com. A full write-up on each event is available online and will be in the February 2007 issue of AmericanStyle, which hits newsstands December 26, 2006.
Two other Kentucky entries, The St. James Court Art Show, Louisville, Kentucky, ranked third, and the Francisco’s Farm Arts Festival, Midway, Kentucky, ranked tenth. Both of these festivals made their debut on the list.
The Kentucky Craft Marketing Program (KCMP), a division of the Kentucky Arts Council, produces this premier marketing event for the state. The Market is the nation's first, and remains one of the very few, state-sponsored events of its kind in the country.. 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.
March 3-4, 2007 will mark the 25th Anniversary of Kentucky Crafted: The Market and will be held in Louisville at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, South Wing B.
This national award-winning show features over 300 exhibitors of contemporary and traditional craft, two-dimensional visual art, books, musical recordings, and “Kentucky Proud” food products. Kentucky cultural entertainment and children’s educational craft activities (ages 4-12) are also included.
KCMP Director, Fran Redmon says, ”This recognition will be a great boost to the Market in the same year that we are celebrating the 25th Anniversary. We are so appreciative of the acknowledgement and hope it will attract even more attention and increase the potential for exhibitors to promote and sell their products.”
The 2006 Top 10 Art Fairs and Festivals ranked in order are:
- Kentucky Crafted: The Market (Louisville, Ky.)
- Paradise City Arts Festivals (Northampton, Mass.; Marlborough, Mass.; Philadelphia, Pa.)
- St. James Court Art Show (Louisville, Ky.)
- Scottsdale Arts Festival (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
- Bayou City Art Festival (Houston, Texas)
- Festival of the Arts/Pageant of the Masters (Laguna Beach, Calif.)
- Ann Arbor Art Fairs, (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
- La Quinta Arts Festival (La Quinta, Calif.)
- Downtown Festival & Art Show (Gainesville, Fla.)
- Francisco’s Farm Arts Festival (Midway, Ky.)
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.
If you plan to attend:
Public Days March 3 - 4
Saturday, 9am - 6pm - Sunday, 10am - 5pm, (EST)
Adults $8 Children (ages 15 and under Free) Parking $5
###################
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.
|