Kentucky Crafted: The Market to be held April 21-23 in Lexington

Includes 13 new artists

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 27, 2017) — The 35th Kentucky Crafted: The Market will be held from April 21-23 at the Lexington Convention Center.

The Kentucky Arts Council’s signature event allows Kentucky Crafted artists to display and sell their work to a broad base of retail shoppers and wholesale buyers. More than 200 Kentucky Crafted and selected out-of-state artists will be represented at The Market.

In addition to seasoned artists, this year’s event will include 13 new Kentucky Crafted artists who have never before exhibited their work at The Market.

“The Market is one of the most anticipated cultural events in the Commonwealth of Kentucky every year,” said Lydia Bailey Brown, arts council executive director. “Artists, buyers, and cultural enthusiasts come from around the state and the region to enjoy the artistic excellence and hospitality that The Market provides. We are expecting record crowds this year and we are excited to have them.”

April 21 is the designated day for registered wholesale buyers to place orders directly with artists at The Market. The wholesale day is open exclusively to buyers, which can include businesses like craft galleries, bookstores, clothing stores, home furnishing stores, gift shops, interior design firms, music stores and other businesses that want to sell Kentucky art and craft.

This year’s Market boasts a daily showcase of Kentucky musicians from the arts council’s Performing Artists Directory, who will perform on the Kentucky Stage. Seventeen acts from a diverse array of genres will perform live all day April 22-23. The April 22 Kentucky Stage show will also feature a presentation of the Homer Ledford Award by the Kentucky Folklife Center. This year’s award recipient is Kentucky luthier and Governor’s Award in the Arts recipient Doug Naselroad.

The Market will also host the arts council’s multidisciplinary traveling exhibit, “The Illustrated Word.” The exhibit theme connects visual art with literature, including the use of text within the work. Libraries across Kentucky will host the exhibit through the end of 2018.

The Market doors open to the general public April 22-23. Hours for The Market are:

• April 22, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• April 23, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.