Applications are being taken right now by the Kentucky Arts Council for next year’s Kentucky Crafted arts marketing program. The deadline to turn applications in is August 15th.
Applicants for Kentucky Crafted must be a visual or craft artist who does original work in any medium, a full-time resident of Kentucky and 18 years of age or older. Officials said they should also have a well-developed body of work and some marketing experience.
Communications Director at the Kentucky Arts Council, Tom Musgrave, said beyond those requirements, artists should also have a strong narrative.
“You have to apply to get in it,” said Musgrave. “Not just your work but your ability to communicate your story as an artist and the story of the work you do. Obviously, the work has to be of very high quality.”
Officials said Kentucky Crafted not only assists visual and craft artists but is a symbol of artistic excellence in the commonwealth.
Musgrave said since 2020 the council was forced to meet virtually to evaluate applications.
“This is the first year since the pandemic that we are doing in person panels once again. We are very excited about that and I know the panelist are too because they like being in the same room as each other and be able to look at the art up close and see texture of the natural and organic products and get the scents,” said Musgrave. “So that is a very big deal for us.”
The council plans to start application evaluations sometime in September and start orientation in October.
More information on how to apply for next year’s market can be found at the Kentucky Arts Council’s website at kyarts.gosmart.org.