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The Art of Job Creation

By Lane Report Staff

Arts marketing programs and an arts and cultural districts initiative developed by the Kentucky Arts Council Kentucky were cited on several occasions in the recent National Governors Association’s report “New Engines of Growth: Five Roles for Arts, Culture, and Design.”

“We expect that the Cultural District Certification Program will create benefits that extend far beyond the arts and cultural sector to benefit the commonwealth as a whole,” said Gov. Steve Beshear. “The NGA report will attract national recognition for the program, as well as promote the use of Kentucky’s existing assets and infrastructure to generate economic activity, encourage business and job development, and facilitate community development.”

The NGA Center for Best Practices will share info on what commonwealth arts development officials are doing with other states.

There is a national movement of state-certified cultural districts, the growing importance of arts-based placemaking and economic development strategies among state arts agencies, according to Dr. Jonathan Katz, CEO of National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, which serves as a clearinghouse for data and research about public funding and the arts. He addressed Kentucky tourism, agriculture, arts and business leaders early this month in Frankfort.

“Kentucky communities are working very hard to put the arts at the center of downtown revitalization efforts,” said Lori Meadows, executive director of the Kentucky Arts Council. “We are very proud to have this national recognition and serve as a model for other states’ economic and community development.”