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	Fall 2002 Grant Awards
	Message from the Director
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The BlueMoon is published bi-monthly by the Kentucky Arts Council. Please send comments, questions and information to The Blue Moon, Kentucky Arts Council, Old Capitol Annex, 300 West Broadway, Frankfort, KY 40601-1980 or call 502/564-3757V/TDD Toll Free: 1-888-833-2787
E-mail: kyarts@mail.state.ky.us

Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading arts information clearinghouse, has recently published - Ten Characteristics of a Healthy Community: How the Arts Can be Integrated.” This monograph was the result of a national conference which focused on the question, How can the arts be employed to increase the livability of our nation's communities?. This is a topic that resonates strongly with the Arts Council and our Cabinet, because it speaks to the subject of - Quality of Life,” a goal of Governor Patton's administration, and one in which we feel the arts can assume an extremely important role. As we strive to articulate the value of the arts in ways that our public will find integral to their own lives, we need to look at these ten characteristics of a healthy community:

1. The arts bring together diverse people.

2. Elected officials understand the importance of supporting the arts and do so.

3. The arts are valued as a critical component of learning for all children - including at-risk youth - and for adults, both in the classroom and in other educational settings.

4. Active participation in culture creates individual and community meaning.

5. Business people and corporate citizens recognize that the arts are important to a healthy business environment and are involved in the arts in diverse ways.

6. The arts are infused in the natural and built environment.

7. The arts are integral to civic dialogue and community building.

8. The arts are valued as an industry because of their contribution to the - new economy” which encompasses quality of life, economic development, and tourism.

9. The contributions of individual artists are valued and supported.

10. The arts flourish with new and diverse leadership informed by those who paved the way for them.

This monograph has a lot of helpful discussion about how all of us can work to use the arts to create healthy, thriving communities across the commonwealth. I encourage you to visit the AFTA Web site to view the full text.

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