Kentucky Writers’ Day is April 26, and for the first time since 2019 we are gathering in person for this special day. Join us at 10 a.m. ET in the Capitol Rotunda, Frankfort, as we celebrate Kentucky’s literary tradition. Six former state poets laureate will join current Kentucky Poet Laureate Crystal Wilkinson as we honor the written word. Poets laureate who will read from their work include Jeff Worley, Frederick Smock, George Ella Lyon, Frank X Walker, Maureen Morehead, Sena Jeter Naslund and Richard Taylor.
We’re already celebrating Writers’ Day, however, as you’ve probably already noticed. Each day in April on the Kentucky Arts Council Facebook page we are featuring captioned videos of writers who live in Kentucky or are originally from Kentucky. These writers are reading from their own work, including poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and other literary disciplines. We put out the call for videos in early March and received more than 50 videos. We thank everyone who took the time to contribute. Your readings help make Kentucky Writers’ Day a monthlong celebration.
The Kentucky Derby is coming and this year we are reintroducing our annual exhibit that honors the run for the roses. This year's Kentucky Derby exhibit theme is "Tell Us a Story." Oral history has been an essential part of the lives of Kentuckians and the state's Native peoples. Individuals, families and communities throughout the state trace their history through family lineage and migration stories, as well as through folklore and legend. Pieces submitted for “Tell Us a Story” should reflect stories, memories, experiences, people and places that carry on the rich tradition of Kentucky's oral history. Whether you've lived here all your life or you've moved from elsewhere to make a home in Kentucky, we want to know your story through your art. To learn how to submit work for this exhibit, which runs May 7-June 1 in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort, visit the exhibit prospectus and application on our website. The deadline to submit is April 17.
Before I close out this letter, I want to offer several notes of gratitude. First, thanks to everyone – artists, visitors, wholesale buyers, the Kentucky Horse Park and Kentucky Arts Council staff – for making the 2022 Kentucky Crafted Market a huge success last month. This was our first Market in three years, and judging by attendance and participation from our exhibitors, people missed this annual celebration of Kentucky creativity. For this year, we dropped the admission charge, asking visitors instead to contribute to the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund, and you responded in a big way! Cash donations totaled nearly $7,000 for the entire weekend, contributing to more than $25,000 donated to the fund that week in cash and online donations. You can still make donations to that fund by visiting the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund website.
Three days after Market ended, we hosted Arts Day(s) in Kentucky, March 16-18, and we want to thank the many presenters and guests who came together to exchange information, stories, and to share talent. If you missed any of the great content during Arts Day(s), you can view it on our YouTube channel.
Art Inc. Kentucky, in Lexington’s east end, hosted the Kentucky Arts Council for its quarterly board meeting on March 25. In addition to the business agenda, board members toured the Art House Kentucky gallery (which features work by several Kentucky Crafted artists), artist studios at Art Inc. and the Artists’ Village. We want to thank Art Inc. and President Mark Johnson for their hospitality in hosting our board meeting and providing the tour.
See you at Kentucky Writers’ Day later this month!
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