BEREA, Ky. (May 14, 2012) – At 2:15 p.m. on Friday, May 11, the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea welcomed its 2 millionth visitor, Jennifer Price, from Louisville. Jennifer was traveling on Interstate -75 with her husband, James, and their three young children, Madeline, David and Julianna. Marcheta Sparrow, secretary of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, was on hand to present a Kentucky gift basket to Jennifer and her family.
“Celebrating the success of the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea is a great way to cap off National Travel and Tourism Week,” said Sparrow, who announced earlier in the week that tourism had an economic impact of nearly $11.7 billion during 2011 in Kentucky.
The Prices said this was the family’s second visit to the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea.
“The artwork and crafts on display here make it a very interesting and great place to stop – even if we are only traveling through the area like today,” Jennifer Price said.
James Price said the family also was able to get important travel information.
“We were headed south to Sevierville (Tenn.), and we were aware of the (I-75) lane closures at Jellico Mountain,” he said. “We knew we could get accurate and up-to-date travel details at the center.”
Dedicated to showcasing the work of Kentucky’s many outstanding artisans, the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea is located at 200 Artisan Way, just off Interstate 75 at Berea exit 77. Inside, visitors find exciting opportunities to shop for Kentucky-made crafts, musical recordings, foods, fine art and books; view special exhibitions; explore Kentucky crafts and history; sample Kentucky cuisine; experience Kentucky hospitality and enjoy full traveler services.
Special exhibits currently on display include “About Face: Kentucky Artisan Works Inspired by the Human Face,” through Aug. 26, and “Commissioned to Create: Works by Artists Who Created the Governor’s Awards (1995-2011),” through July 29, an exhibit developed by the Kentucky Arts Council. For information about the center’s programming, call 1-859-985-5448 or visit the center’s website at www.kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov.
The center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and features annual special exhibitions, a sales gallery and gift shop with fine art and crafts, demonstrations every Saturday by Kentucky artisans, and a cafe open from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., which specializes in Kentucky cuisine.
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