FRANKFORT, Ky. — Seven performing artists or groups have been accepted into the Kentucky Arts Council’s Performing Arts Directory, the agency announced today. Six additional artists or groups had their eligibility renewed for the state’s adjudicated roster of performing artists.

The new Performing Arts Directory artists are:

• Shauna Dever, Owensboro
• Graham Shelby, Louisville
• Joseph Gill Hudson, Greenville
• Lakshmi Sriraman, Lexington
• Lexington Ballet Company Inc., Lexington
• Marcus L. Wilkerson, Lexington
• Pamela F. Holcomb, Putney

Artists or groups who were renewed are:

• Appalatin, Louisville
• Chattering Magpies, Rineyville
• Coco Yam Band, Louisville
• Diana Dinicola, Louisville
• Keltricity, Louisville
• Shuling Fister, Lexington

“Artists and groups included in the Performing Arts Directory represent a diverse selection of the state’s finest contemporary and traditional performing artists,” said arts council Executive Director Lori Meadows. “We congratulate these artists and look forward to working with them.”

Acceptance into the Performing Arts Directory is based on artistic excellence, performance experience and marketing capacity, as judged by an independent panel of performing arts professionals. There are currently 98 individual artists or groups participating in the Performing Arts Directory. For a complete listing of performing artists in the directory, including contact information and performance samples, go to http://artistdirectory.ky.gov/Pages/PerformingArtistDirectory.aspx.

The arts council provides training and marketing opportunities to Performing Arts Directory artists in addition to promoting them to performing arts presenters and others via the web-based directory and Kentucky on Stage showcase.

Kentucky On Stage connects performing artists to arts center and community center presenters, Main Street and Renaissance program managers, conference and event coordinators, festival organizers, winery entertainment bookers, wedding planners, library program planners, university student activity boards and anyone else interested in booking performances for an upcoming event, performance or season.

For more information about the Performing Arts Directory or Kentucky on Stage, contact Tamara Coffey, individual artist program director at tamara.coffey@ky.gov or 502-564-3757, ext. 479.

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.

Note to editors: To request biographical or contact information for a specific artist or group, contact Emily B. Moses, arts council communications director, at 502-564-3757, ext. 472.

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