Home » Spotlight on the Arts: October 2015

Spotlight on the Arts: October 2015

By Lori Meadows

Kentucky Crafted at the Breeders’ Cup Festival, Oct. 28-31

Like most of the state, the Kentucky Arts Council is getting ready for the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington. This will mark the first time Keeneland has hosted that elite series of races, and Central Kentucky is determined to put its best foot forward.

The Kentucky Arts Council has been invited to host Kentucky Crafted @ the Breeders’ Cup Festival, which will be open to the public from noon-6 p.m. Oct. 28 and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 29-31 at The Livery, 238 E. Main St. in downtown Lexington. The arts council will also host a brunch 9-11 a.m. Oct. 29 that will be a good opportunity for people who work and own businesses downtown to meet the artists and see their work.

Twenty-one artists in Kentucky Arts Council programs have been selected to participate in this curated shopping experience. The selected artists represent a diverse cross-section of talent in Kentucky. If you own a business and are looking for art to enhance the appeal of your office space, Kentucky Crafted @ the Breeders’ Cup Festival is a great opportunity to peruse some of the best art in the state.

Kentucky Crafted is an adjudicated program that provides assistance to Kentucky visual and craft artists through marketing and promotional opportunities and arts business training.

The arts council is sharing space in The Livery with the Kentucky Distillers Association during Breeders’ Cup Festival week. In addition to its hours open to the general public, Kentucky Crafted @ the Breeders’ Cup Market will be open to guests of the Kentucky Distillers Association Bourbon Backstretch events, beginning at 6 p.m. Oct. 28 for Master Distillers’ Night, and 6 p.m. Oct. 30 and 31 for Tasting Nights. Tickets for those private events can be purchased from the Kentucky Distillers Association, (502) 875-9351.

For more information about the Breeders’ Cup Festival, visit breederscupfestival.com.

Register for the Ky. Creative Industry Summit

The second annual Creative Industry Summit will be held Nov. 12-13 at the Owensboro Convention Center, a two-day event packed with learning opportunities, panel discussions and interactive workshops all related to growing and supporting the Kentucky creative industry.

On Nov. 12 attendees can choose from two workshop tracks: one for artists and creative entrepreneurs, and another for individuals and organizations interested in community development through the arts. All workshop attendees will finish the day with a dynamic, interactive workshop presented by Leonardo Vasquez, executive director of the National Consortium for Creative Placemaking.

On Friday, Nov. 13, the main event will feature national, state and local experts discussing the creative industry and related topics that will benefit individuals and communities interested in growing and supporting their local and statewide creative industries.

Registration, detailed agendas and hotel information are available on the arts council’s website, artscouncil.ky.gov.

Kentucky Crafted Buyer Registration Opens October 12

Kentucky Crafted: The Market, which will be held March 4-6, 2016 at the Lexington Convention Center. Buyer registration for The Market opens Oct. 12.

Qualified buyers include wholesale buyers who have a shop, gallery, catalog or other retail venue for selling artwork; design trade businesses, like architects, interior designers or landscape designers; and corporate buyers, like government and corporate executives responsible for gift buying, commissions and other art purchases not for resale.

The Market is open exclusively to registered buyers on March 4. Buyers can peruse items, discuss wholesale rates with artists and make orders during this day. They can also make orders March 5 and 6, but March 4 is the only Market day open for buyers only.