The Kentucky Arts Council is asking Kentucky artists, arts groups, arts supporters and the general public, to participate in two online surveys that will help assess the state of the arts in the Commonwealth. One survey is for the arts council's Kentucky Creative Industry study and the other will gather feedback for the council's next strategic plan.
Survey responses will be aggregated, and no individual's responses will be publicly identified. Both surveys are available online through June 8. Responders, especially those who work in arts-related fields, are encouraged to take both surveys.
"Input from artists and the general public is vital to assisting the state arts agency with planning for the future of the arts in the Commonwealth," said Lori Meadows, arts council executive director. "We would like for as many people as possible to respond to these surveys to help measure the impact of the creative industry in Kentucky and to help us prepare our strategic plan that will guide us through the next six years."
The Creative Industry survey seeks input from Kentuckians who work within the realm of the arts and earn part or all of their income through creative work. "The arts" is defined broadly for the purposes of the survey and includes creative work such as visual art and craft, graphic design, film and media, folk arts, writing, advertising, music, theater, web design, product design, dance, architecture, interior design and other employment in the arts spectrum.
"The report we are compiling for the Kentucky Arts Council will document how Kentucky's creative industry contributes to the state's economy and well-being," said Beth Siegel, president of Mt. Auburn Associates, the firm conducting the study. "We hope to collect feedback from all areas in the state to get a clear picture on the strengths and challenges of the Commonwealth's creative economy."
The arts council's strategic plan survey will relate to arts planning in Kentucky from 2015-21 and will be submitted to the National Endowment for the Arts later this year. As the state arts agency, the arts council is the sole agency responsible for the administration of a state arts plan. Public input is sought in this instance to help shape the future of the arts in the Commonwealth.
For the purpose of the strategic plan, "the arts" again is used as a broad term to refer to the spectrum from the classical arts to folk and traditional arts, in all disciplines. It includes the activities of arts educators, professional artists, presenters and avocational arts practitioners.
Kentucky artists, arts administrators, board members, educators, donors to the arts, volunteers for the arts, arts supporters and anyone interested in the future of the arts in Kentucky should participate in this survey. Each survey takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
Take the Creative Industry study survey online at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KY_Artists_and_Creative_Freelancers
Take the Kentucky Arts Council strategic plan survey online at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KAC-StrategicPlan
The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.
