Part of project merging art with farmers markets
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 19, 2016) — The Kentucky Arts Council will hold creative asset inventory workshops in Ohio and Owsley counties as part of a yearlong U.S. Department of Agriculture funded pilot project to merge the arts with local farmers markets.
Creative asset inventories catalog a community’s places and characteristics that promote meaningful and memorable experiences for its residents. These experiences can happen through the local culture, art, history, cuisine or architecture.
“Putting together an assets inventory is a valuable exercise to build local support and identify what makes your place unique,” said Lori Meadows, arts council executive director. “Assets inventories are excellent documentation for communities wanting to pursue grant funds, achieve local designations like Kentucky Trail Towns or implement other community and economic development plans.”
The Ohio County workshop will be Aug. 26 at the Ohio County Cooperative Extension Office, 1337 Clay St. in Hartford. The Owsley County workshop will be Aug. 31 at the Booneville Entertainment Center, Old Highway 11 in Booneville. Registration for both workshops can be made online or by calling the arts council office at 888-833-2787.
Each workshop is divided into two sessions. The first session, 9:30 a.m. to noon, is open to all Kentucky residents and focuses on how to conduct and maintain creative assets inventories. The second session, 1-3 p.m., is open only to residents of Ohio and Owsley counties. Those participants will begin making creative assets inventories for their respective communities.
Beaver Dam Mayor Paul Sandefur said there are two reasons he is hopeful for abundant participation in the workshops.
“We need to make sure all our bases are covered in this inventory. What one person might consider an asset, another may not. The more people involved, the broader your list of assets will be.” Sandefur said. “Our residents need to realize the great things we have in our community. Sometimes people don’t, and it helps to actually write those down and give them that recognition in black and white.”
Glenn Baker, community education director for Owsley County Schools, said the need for identifying creative assets is also prevalent in his area.
“Owsley County is steeped in history, and we have a lot of people that love community and love this county,” Baker said. “It’s a great community and we need everyone in it to help identify our resources – what programs we have, what arts entities we have. We want to show people what we can move toward in order to make more resources available.”
For more information about the workshops, contact Emily B. Moses, arts council creative industry manager, at [email protected] or 502-564-3757, ext. 472.
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