Beau Haddock
1-888-592-7238, ext. 4817

beau.haddock@ky.gov
http://kycraft.ky.gov

Frankfort, Ky. (February 10, 2004) – Kentucky Crafted: The Market 2004 marks the fifth year, the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program and the Department of Agriculture will partner with the Kentucky Retail Federation in presenting the Kentucky Crafted Retailer Awards to an outstanding in-state retailer, a Kentucky Proud food retailer, a Kentucky state park gift shop, and an out-of-state retailer. These four important categories of retailers provide outlets to Kentucky producers for selling their products. The Kentucky Retail Federation, located in Frankfort, is a statewide group that represents the retail community in governmental affairs. Nominations are made by Market exhibitors and based on quantities of Kentucky Crafted inventory ordered by the nominees, promotional efforts, and positive relationships with vendors. Winners will be honored at the annual Kentucky Crafted: The Market’s Awards Dinner on Friday, February 27, 2004.  (See list of Nominees below.)

Last year’s winners were: Don Wallace of Forever Resorts, out-of-state retailer; Mimi Dandeneau of Appalachian Fireside Gallery, in-state retailer; Carol Bernard of Lake Cumberland State Resort Park, state park retailer; and Emily Greenwell of My Old Kentucky Home State Resort Park, the "Kentucky Proud" food award.

Top out-of-state award recipient, Don Wallace, senior vice president of Forever Resorts, Scottsdale, Arizona said, “We were very impressed by the quality of craft offered at the Kentucky Crafted Market. Every booth displayed beautiful handcrafted works of art in a wide variety of mediums and price points. We met several artists and found many new resources for our Forever Resorts stores.” 
 
The Market is open to Trade only on February 26 and 27, 2004. Interested retailers who wish to attend can register at the door with two forms of business identification or visit web sit www.kycraft.ky.gov to register on line.

The Market will be open to the public from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, February 28, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST) on Sunday, February 29, at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, South Wing A, in Louisville.  Public admission is $8.00 for adults, $4.00 for children ages 6-12, and free for children under 6.  Parking is $5.00.  Free shuttle transportation will be provided from the parking lot. Visit the web site www.kycraft.ky.gov for 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.

The Market is produced by the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program, a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet, Commonwealth of Kentucky.

2004 TOP RETAILER AWARDS

“Kentucky Crafted” Nominees

Kentucky

*Appalachian Fireside Galleries, Berea, KY

ARTIQUE, Lexington, KY

Honeysuckle Vine, Berea, KY

Image One Gallery,   Henderson, KY

Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea, Berea, KY

*Kentucky Haus Craft Gallery, Inc., Newport, KY

*Log House Craft Gallery, Berea, KY

Museum of American Quilter’s Society, Paducah, KY

*Promenade Gallery, Berea, KY

*Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg, KY

*True Kentucky, Glendale, KY

Kentucky State Parks

*Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Lucas, KY

Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park, Gilbertsville, KY

Lake Barkley State Resort Part, Cadiz, KY

†My Old Kentucky Home State Park, Bardstown, KY

Natural Bridge State Resort Park, Slade, KY

Out-of-State

American Craftworks Collection, Annapolis, MD

*Bluestem Missouri Crafts, Columbia, MS

Grovewood Gallery, Ashville, NC

Hidden Hill Nursery, Jeffersonville, IN

New Morning Gallery, Ashville, NC

The Longaberger Company, Newark, OH

  “KENTUCKY PROUD” Food Nominees

††A Taste of Kentucky, Louisville, KY

Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Lucas, KY

Broadbent Foods & Gifts, Cadiz, KY

†**Constitution Square State Historic Site, Danville, KY

**Completely Kentucky, Frankfort, KY                   

**Craft Company #6 , Rochester, NY

**Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, Corbin, KY

Jim Beam American Outpost, Clermont, KY

Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Lexington, KY

Kentucky Artisan Center, Berea, KY

Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park  , Gilbertsville, KY

*Lake Cumberland State Resort Park, Jamestown, KY

Liquor Barn, Lexington/Louisville, KY

Mulberry Junction, LaGrange, KY

†My Old Kentucky Home State Park, Bardstown, KY

Paradies Shops, Louisville, KY

††Paul’s Fruit Markets, Louisville, KY

*Rough River Dam State Resort Park, Falls of Rough, KY

†Slone’s Signature Markets, Lexington, KY

The Longaberger Company, Frazeysburg, OH

*True Kentucky, Glendale, KY

Woodford Reserve Distilleries, Versailles, KY

Jim Beam's American Outpost, Clermont, KY

* Previous Kentucky Crafted Award Recipient

            ** Hall of Fame Kentucky Crafted Retailer

†Previous Kentucky Proud Award Recipient

††Hall of Fame Kentucky Proud Retailer

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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.