Kentucky Crafted: The Market 2006 marks the seventh year, the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program, a division of the Kentucky Arts Council, and the Department of Agriculture will partner with the Kentucky Retail Federation in presenting the Kentucky Crafted Top Retailer Awards to an outstanding in-state retailer, a Kentucky state park gift shop, and an out-of- state retailer and the Kentucky Proud Award to a top food retailer. These four categories of retailers provide important outlets to Kentucky producers for selling their products. Nominations are made by Market exhibitors and based on quantities of Kentucky Crafted or Kentucky Proud inventory ordered by the nominees, promotional efforts, and positive relationships with vendors. Winners will be honored during the Market’s annual awards dinner scheduled for Friday, March 3rd, 2006 at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, South Wing B, in Louisville.
Last year’s top retailer award recipients were: Grovewood Gallery, Asheville, North Carolina for Top Out-Of-State Retailer; My Old Kentucky Home State Park, Bardstown, Kentucky for Top Kentucky State Park Retailer; The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea, for Top Kentucky Retailer and A Taste of Kentucky, Louisville, Kentucky, for Top Kentucky Proud Food Retailer. As second year recipients in their respective categories, A Taste of Kentucky and The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea will now be retired from the competition and become members of the Retailer Hall of Fame.
“Our ongoing relationship with so many Kentucky artists is extremely important to our success at Grovewood Gallery. We are devoted to fine craftsmanship and recognize and admire all that the state of Kentucky does to support its many talented artists! We thank you so much for being named last year’s Top Out of State Retailer,” said Sherry Masters, General Manager and Buyer at Grovewood Gallery, Asheville, North Carolina.
The Market is open to Trade (only) March 3, 2006. Interested retailers who wish to attend can register at the door with two forms of business identification. Please visit www.kycraft.ky.gov for more information and the 2006 program guide.
The Market will be open to the public from 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 4, and 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. (EST) on Sunday, March 5, at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, South Wing B, in Louisville. Public admission is $8.00 for adults, children 15 and under admitted free. Parking is $5.00. Free shuttle transportation will be provided from the parking lot. Visit the web site www.kycraft.ky.gov for the official program guide and $1.00 off admission coupon.
Shoppers can expect to see 300 of Kentucky’s finest traditional, folk and contemporary crafts, two-dimensional visual art, recorded music, videos, books, food products, Kentucky Cultural Stage entertainment, and children’s craft activities.
Back this year is the Osram Sylvania Designer Showcase, created by the University of Kentucky College of Design students and lighting professionals from this year’s Silver Sponsor, Osram Sylvania Inc. This year’s showcase will feature Kentucky’s best products for every room in your home.
The one-of-a-kind, Gallery Section, will be returning with limited production items, ideal for collectors, museums, and commissions.
The Market is produced by the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program, a division of the Kentucky Arts Council, a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet, Commonwealth of Kentucky.
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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.
Kentucky Crafted: The Market
2006 Top Retailer Award Nominees
Top In-state Retailer
ARTIQUE, Lexington
Bittners, Louisville
CCS Group, River’s Edge, Erlanger
Churchill Weavers, Berea
Edenside Gallery, Louisville
Kentucky Haus Craft Gallery, Newport
Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington
Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, Louisville
Liquor Barn, Louisville
Log House Craft Gallery, Berea
The Paradies Shops, Louisville International Airport, Louisville
E.S. Tichenor Company, Louisville
Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg
True Kentucky, Glendale
Barren River State Resort Park, Lucas
Top Kentucky State Park Gift Shop Manager (cont.)
Lake Barkley State Resort Park, Cadiz
My Old Kentucky Home State Park, Bardstown
Natural Bridge State Resort Park, Slade
Top Out-of-state Retailer
Columbus Area Visitors Center, Columbus, IN
Grovewood Gallery, Asheville, NC
Highland Craft Gallery, Gatlinburg, TN
The Klay Gallery, Nyack, NY
New Morning Gallery, Asheville, NC
Shaker Workshops, Ashburnham, MA
Wolfhaus Ltd., Moscow, OH
Woodin Ya Wanit, Inc., Osage Beach, MO
Top Kentucky Proud Retailer Award Nominees
Amazing Grace Whole Foods Market, Louisville
Completely Kentucky, Frankfort,
Constitution Square State Historic Site, Danville
Craft Company No. 6, Rochester, New York
Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, Corbin
Farmington Historic Home, Louisville
Good Foods Coop, Lexington
Keene’s Depot, Bardstown
Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea, Berea
Kiss The Cook, Nashville, Indiana
Lake Barkley State Resort Park, Cadiz
Lake Cumberland State Resort Park, Jamestown
Liquor Barns, Lexington and Louisville
Lynn’s Paradise Café, Louisville
My Favorite Things, Lexington
My Old Kentucky Home State Park, Bardstown
P.G.A. Tour, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Ramsi’s Café, Louisville
Rebecca Ruth Candies, Frankfort
Rough River State Resort Park, Falls of Rough
The Chopping Block, Chicago, Illinois
Town & Country Pharmacy, Hopkinsville
True Kentucky, Glendale
Whole Foods Market, Louisville