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Kentucky Arts Council to showcase Performing Artists Directory

Master Class workshop scheduled for Oct. 15

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 29, 2015) — The Kentucky Arts Council will showcase some of the best acts from its Performing Artists Directory during “Master Class: A Learning Lab on Connecting with New Audiences” from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 15 at the Grand Theatre in Frankfort.

artsThe event is also a day of learning for performing arts presenters, business and civic leaders, college and university activity boards, community groups and organizations, event planners, festival organizers, government agencies, librarians, Main Street managers, park directors and Trail Town participants.

In addition to nine performers of various artistic disciplines, Master Class includes two workshops designed to help broaden the audience base for performances. Workshops will include “Trending: Meeting the Mission Through Social Media,” presented by Rachel Shane, the University of Kentucky’s arts administration program director; and “Totally Accessible: Reaching New Audiences,” presented by Louisville-based access, inclusion and education consultant Talleri McRae.

“In the 21st century, a lot of arts and nonprofit organizations have to appeal to multiple generations of audiences,” Shane said. “The traditional over 55 audience might still be looking at print, television and radio to get their information, but younger audiences are finding out about events in a purely online format. Groups who present performances need to think across the generations in order to further their audience development.”

Shane, who will be addressing a variety of social media platforms, like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube and LinkedIn, said, “I hope the workshop gives attendees a better idea how to engage their audiences with social media and what format will be best for their offerings.”

Reaching new audiences also includes people who have different needs, like mobility or communications accessibility, said McCrae. “People with disabilities are potential patrons. The more accessible venues are to them, the more they will patronize them. They are looking to connect with cultural institutions.”

In addition to complying with the law—the Americans With Disabilities Act passed in 1990—providing accommodations to people with disabilities is also a good business decision, McCrae said, because it’s something that directly or indirectly touches everyone.

“One thing to think about is that those of us who are lucky to live long enough will experience some degree of disability in our lives,” she said. “Don’t we want to put in the work now so we can enjoy the fruits of it in the future? It’s just the right thing to do.”

For more information on Master Class, contact Tamara Coffey, individual artist director, at [email protected], or 502-564-3757, ext. 479.