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 A
series of meetings have been held across Kentucky to gather input for
"Creating a Vision for the Future of the Arts in Kentucky." The first
input came from an arts leadership dialogue between members of the boards
of the Kentucky Arts Council, Kentucky Citizens for the Arts and Arts
Kentucky at the Arts Council's September board meeting. Then from mid-October
through early November, the Arts Council, Craft Marketing and Folklife
Program staff teamed with START Initiative performing arts center partners
to hold public forums in thirteen Kentucky communities.
The planing of these meetings was a trial run for the use of the integrative
approach to building participation. Pleased with the efforts of the local
communities, Arts Council Executive Director Gerri Combs said, "We broadened;
there were definitely better turnouts than at the last series of long
range planning meetings. We diversified; there were different faces that
you don't usually see at this type of thing and we have definitely deepened
our relationships with the people we already work with."
Each planning team was charged with identifying a target group to work
with, including local arts in the event, modeling accessibility standards
when possible, and collecting the thoughts of attendees about the future
of the arts in Kentucky. Those topics on the agenda centered on the goals
of the Arts Council and the top issues of concern to Kentuckians according
to recent research of the Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center.
It's Not Too Late to Participate in the Process
If you didn't get chance to attend one of the meetings, you can now
go to a Web survey that has been developed
as a result of the initial input from the public forums. Take a few moments
to let us hear from you!
As all this information is compiled, analyzed and synthesized, it will
shape a plan to inform the work of the Arts Council from 2004-2008 as
well as create a grassroots vision for the state regarding the future
of the arts in the lives of Kentuckians. KAC expects to release the plan
to the public in July of 2003.
Here's a rundown of meetings that were held last fall.
ASHLAND
Date: October 24
Location: Paramount Arts Center
Planning Partner: Paramount Arts Center
Facilitator: Gerri Combs
Target Group: Family Resources Centers
Attendance: 15-30 (depending on time)
Local Arts Performance or Demonstration: Wiley Dew
BOWLING GREEN
Date: October 22
Location: Presbyterian Church
Planning Partners: Capitol Arts Alliance, Community Action of SoKy, and
Holy Trinity Lutheran School Facilitator: Jaana Sipila
Target Group: Daycare Providers
Attendance: 65
Local Arts Performance or Demonstration: Bowling Green Chamber Orchestra
Players
HENDERSON
Date: October 22
Planning Partners: Henderson Area Arts Alliance
Location: Henderson Fine Arts Center
Facilitator: Libby Alexander
Target Group: African-Americans
Attendance: 23
Local Arts Performance or Demonstration: E.J. Simmons Ensemble
HOPKINSVILLE
Date: October 24
Planning Partner: Pennyroyal Arts Council
Location: Alhambra Theater
Facilitator: Constance Alexander
Target Group: Educators
Attendance: 25
Local Arts Performance or Demonstration: Beau Haddock
LEXINGTON
Date: October 29
Planning Partner: Singletary Center for the Arts
Location: Downtown Arts Center
Facilitator: Steve Kay
Target Group: 25-35 age group
Attendance: 106
Local Arts Performance: Guitarist Logan Leet
LOUISVILLE
Date: October 22
Planning Partner and Location: Kentucky Center for the Arts
Facilitator: Steve Kay
Target Group: New Immigrant Groups who live at the Americana Apartments
Attendance: 80+
Local Arts Performance: Governor's School for the Arts participants and
the Ochion Jewel Duet
MADISONVILLE
Date: November 4
Planning Partner and Location: Glema Mahr Center for the Arts
Facilitator: Liz Fentress
Attendance: 12
NORTHERN KY
Date: October 22
Planning Partners: Covington Community Center, My Nose turns Red Theatre
Company, Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center, Behringer-Crawford
Museum
Location: Northern Kentucky Convention Center
Facilitator: Liz Fentress
Target Group: Broadening Constituencies of Planning Organizations
Attendance: 25
OWENSBORO
Date: October 21
Planning Partner and Location: RiverPark Center
Facilitator: Libby Alexander
Target Group: RiverPark Center Diversity Committee
Attendance: 20
Local Arts Performance: Mexican traditional dance by Connie Caceres, Sr.
Fran Wilhelm and dancer and guitarist Anidel Rollero, and Irish bagpipes
performance by William Nesmith
PADUCAH
Date: October 29
Planning Partners: Paducah Community College Fine Arts Center, Four Rivers
Center for the Performing Arts
Location: Maiden Alley Cinema
Facilitator: Constance Alexander
Target Groups: Local Educators and the African American Community
Attendance: 50
Local Arts Performance: Singer/songwriter Shawn Chester
PRESTONSBURG
Date: October 22
Location: Mountain Arts Center
Facilitator: Bill Andy Farley
Target Group: Educators
Attendance: 47
Local Arts Performance Keith Caudill
SOMERSET
Date: October 17
Planning Partner and Location: The Center for Rural Development
Facilitator: Gwen Heffner
Target Groups: African American, rural
Attendance: 42
Local Arts Performance: Open Mike Gospel and Traditional singers including
Jennifer Rose and James Barleston
WINCHESTER
Date: October 28
Planning Partner and Location: Leeds Center for the Arts
Facilitator: Gwen Hefner
Target Group: Parents and Educators
Attendance: 40
Local Arts: Craft exhibits by Mary and Robin Reed, Kelly Smallwood and
Linda Caudill and music by Homer Ledford and Lauren Mink Other Art: Hands-on
art activities for children while their parents were in the meeting. There
were 10 children present and four adult artists/arts educators (Michelle
Ramsey, Julie Baumgardner, Marilyn Bowman and Suez* Early) that with them
in painting and dance. Lauren Mink (a Winchester student and member of
the Junior Opry) also provided music for the children.
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