Home » By the numbers – Fun facts about Kentucky Crafted: The Market

By the numbers – Fun facts about Kentucky Crafted: The Market

Event returns this weekend to the Lexington Center

FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 5, 2014) —Kentucky Crafted: The Market returns this weekend, March 7-9, to the Lexington Convention Center, offering visitors to the Kentucky Arts Council’s award-winning arts marketplace the opportunity to shop the highest quality handmade goods from artists in the commonwealth and the region.

kentucky_craftedKentucky Crafted: The Market is one of the oldest state-sponsored shows of its kind in the nation. The Market features the best of Kentucky art, craft, artisanal food products, books and music. There are also exhibits, hands-on activities, and two days of music on the Kentucky Stage.

1 – Only one exhibitor at The Market will offer luxurious, handmade hats for sale. Newly adjudicated Kentucky Crafted participant Sarah Havens, who runs Sarah Havens Millinery in Louisville, will be at The Market for the first time this year.

2 – Kentucky Crafted Program artists Melvin Rowe, who operates Pottery Rowe in Louisville, and Tim Hall, of Tim Hall Woodcarvings in Ravenna, are the only two program participants who have exhibited at every Market since the show began.

3 – This year marks the third year that Kentucky Crafted: The Market has returned to the Lexington Convention Center.

4 – There are four organizations that will offer hands-on activities to Market visitors – The Explorium of Lexington, Josephine Sculpture Park of Frankfort, The Living Arts & Science Center of Lexington, and the Louisville Visual Art Association.

5 – Five exhibits will be on display at The Market, including three of the arts council’s traveling exhibits – identity, Uncommon Wealth, and The Makings of a Master – an exhibit of work by artists in the arts council’s Architectural Artists Directory; and an exhibit from the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea, the arts council’s sister agency in the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.

6 – Artists from six states, representing programs similar to Kentucky Crafted, were invited to participate at the event. Thirty-seven artists from Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, North Carolina and Tennessee will have work for sale.

7-9 – Kentucky Crafted: The Market is March 7-9 at the Lexington Convention Center. March 7 is open to wholesale and trade buyers. Doors open to the public March 8-9.

10 – Admission to The Market on public days is $10 at the door. Children 15 and younger are admitted free of charge with a paying adult.

16 – The Southeast Tourism Society named Kentucky Crafted: The Market a Top 20 Event in the southeastern United States for the 16th time this year.

17 – The Kentucky Stage will feature 17 live musical acts and more than 30 musicians, all talented artists in the arts council’s Performing Arts Directory.

20 – Foodies won’t want to miss the Kentucky Proud food area at The Market where many of the 20 food exhibitors provide free samples.

29 – There are 29 new exhibitors at the show from Kentucky and surrounding states.

32 – Kentucky Crafted: The Market turns 32 years old this year!

44 – Kentucky Crafted artists from 44 Kentucky counties are exhibiting at this year’s show.

203 – Visit the booths of 203 exhibitors at Kentucky Crafted: The Market and shop for paintings, prints, photography, jewelry, wearable art, home decor, bath and body, woodwork, toys and artisan foods along with Kentucky-related books and CDs.

2 million – Kentucky Crafted: The Market generated more than $2 million in economic activity during its three-day stay in Lexington last year, benefiting participating artists, the city of Lexington and the entire Commonwealth.

The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.